City of Austin seeking volunteers to help with 2020 Point in Time count

The city and other organizations that work with the homeless held a press conference Tuesday to talk about the importance of the survey.

AUSTIN, Texas - At the end of January, the City of Austin will conduct its annual Point In Time count of the number of people who are homeless in Austin and Travis County. The city is asking for volunteers to help with the count.

The city and other organizations that work with the homeless held a press conference Tuesday to talk about the importance of the survey. Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO is leading the charge on the count.

ECHO says they need 800 volunteers, age 18 and older, to help conduct the 2020 Point in Time count on Saturday, Jan. 25.

City leaders say this is a vital way to help with the city's growing homeless situation.

"We need to get an accurate count to continue to provide the services that people need in our community," said Austin Public Health director Stephanie Hayden at the conference. "We need to have an accurate count so HUD will know that as a community, we do have more people who are homeless and, that those funds will come to Austin to help us provide additional support."

To become a volunteer and to take the required training sessions, visit ECHO's website.