The Tacoma-Pierce County Coalition for the Homeless is seeking the community’s help in conducting its annual census of the county’s homeless population. The point-in-time survey is scheduled for Thurs., Jan. 29 and Fri., Jan. 30. More than 100 community volunteers are needed to visit homeless individuals and ask a few questions about their situations. Volunteers will be paired for safety and will attempt to locate all unsheltered homeless people. Volunteers will also staff “Give Away” sites, where homeless people can obtain personal items.

Call Lynda Buchanan at (253) 798-6526 to volunteer for the survey or to donate personal items such as clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, duffle bags, non-perishable food, bottled water, can openers, flashlights/batteries, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels and feminine napkins.

“The Homeless Network needs the community’s help to make this a successful effort,” said Eileen Armstrong, Homeless Coalition chair. “We encourage employees in government and private sector workplaces to ask fellow workers, friends or community members to volunteer or to organize donation drives.”

Data collected during the annual survey helps provide a picture of the homeless issues in Pierce County, drives planning efforts such as the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness and leverages funding for homeless housing and services from the public and private sectors.