In January 2026,  the Sacramento County asked hundreds of volunteers to canvass the streets, shelters and encampments across the region for the Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count . The canvassing happened in the span of two nights.  The goal was to provided a snapshot of both sheltered and unsheltered populations and collect demographics like information such as age, race, veteran status, and causes of homelessness.

Organized locally by Sacramento Steps Forward, the County's PIT count is a federally-mandated survey conducted every two years to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness. The data collected include factors like  how many people are homeless, where they are located, whether they are on the streets or in an approved encampment or are couch surfing, and what challenges they face. Once the numbers are analyzed, the Counrty issues a report that is shared with local leaders and submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This, in turn,used to justify receipt of federal funding. 

In recent years, the PIT count in Sacramento County has shown a significant rise in homelessness, particularly among unsheltered individuals living outdoors. Factors such as rising housing costs, limited affordable housing, and economic instability have contributed to these increases. While the count is widely used as a benchmark for trends, officials acknowledge it likely underestimates the true scale of homelessness, since it captures only a single moment in time.This being said, is the PIT count going to show us something we don't already know and can’t see with our own eyes? 

Sacramento Steps Forward has confirmed that the count is finished, but no official numbers or reports have been published yet. As of now, then, the official results remain unknown. All we have is confirmation that the count happened. If timelines follow past years, the 2026 results should become available in the next couple of months. 

We will keep an eye out and tell you about the numbers as soon as they are released.