Who are the homeless in Stanislaus County? And how many people live without shelter in our community? To answer these questions, Stanislaus County is preparing for a major effort to better understand homelessness through the 2026 Homeless Point-In-Time (PIT) Count and the public’s help is needed.
The PIT Count is an annual survey of individuals experiencing homelessness in our streets and in our shelters. The data is vital for accessing the scope of homelessness and determining the level of funding communities receive to support housing and services that help people transition to stable, independent living.
“Tracking and measuring our progress in addressing homelessness is essential to understanding how effective our programs are,” said Maryn Pitt, chairwoman of the Community System of Care. “The annual PIT Count plays a vital role in this process. To cover the entire county in one day, it’s critical we have volunteers from across Stanislaus County. Their participation ensures we reach and interview as many people experiencing homelessness as possible.”
She urged volunteers to sign up for the count, which is coordinated by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC), a coalition of local governments, non-profits and homeless providers. Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities nationwide to conduct this count.
Last year’s count found a total of 2,086 people experiencing homelessness in Stanislaus County, up from 2024’s count of 2,052. Turlock had 241 people experiencing homelessness, a 20% increase from the year prior, making it second to Modesto (1,603). A total of 18 persons were counted in Ceres, seven in Keyes and two in Hughson.
The 2026 PIT Count will take place Jan. 29, 2026. It provides a one-night snapshot of both unsheltered and sheltered individuals experiencing homelessness.
The countywide effort depends on the support of volunteers, who will work alongside the Stanislaus County Homeless Outreach and Engagement Team. Volunteers will help conduct surveys and distribute comfort kits – including socks and hygiene items – to those they meet.
The goal is to recruit 300 volunteers who must be at least 18 years of age and watch a mandatory training video.
To participate, register at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/ You’ll be asked to select a city where you’d like to volunteer.
Volunteers may also register by calling 209-558-2961, e-mailing csoc@stancounty.com
The registration deadline is Jan. 18, 2026.
