Community organizations across the Phoenix metro area are preparing for the 2026 Point in Time (PIT) homelessness count, an annual event that helps local leaders measure the scale of homelessness and identify where resources are needed most. The effort, organized by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), will take place before sunrise on Jan. 27, with more than a thousand volunteers expected to participate.
Teams will spread out across neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces to record the number of people living without shelter. The count also includes data from emergency shelters and transitional housing programs to provide a fuller picture of homelessness in the region.
This year, the effort will include a special youth-focused count that extends through Feb. 13. The longer timeframe is designed to better reach young people who may not stay in traditional homeless encampments or shelters, making them harder to identify through a single-night survey. Youth service organizations are being encouraged to join in the outreach.
The Point in Time count plays a critical role in shaping how federal and local funds are allocated for housing, outreach, and social services. Last year’s data showed a roughly 3% increase in homelessness across Maricopa County compared to the previous year.
Volunteers will receive training and assignments from their city’s designated coordinator, and more information about how to sign up is available through MAG’s official website.
Results from the 2026 count are expected to be released later this spring and will help policymakers, nonprofits, and community advocates target solutions to one of the region’s most persistent challenges.
