A countywide count of unsheltered homeless people has been scheduled for Jan. 27 through 29.

The local effort — which receives support from the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, Stockton City Council and officials from Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, and Tracy — is part of a national point-in-time count to gauge the extent of homelessness in communities across the country and determine the needs of individuals and families living on the street.

The Manteca count is set for Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Library Park in Manteca, Yosemite and Manteca Avenues, from noon to 2 p.m.

San Joaquin County is conducting the count by mandate of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the largest source of funding for homeless services in the county. Participation in the count will help preserve more than $4 million annually in homeless program funding spread throughout San Joaquin County.

A committee of homeless shelter and service providers, military veteran service groups, and local government representatives has met for several months to plan and execute a successful count.

 It is the sixth count of unsheltered homeless in San Joaquin County since 2005, the most recent of which was conducted in January 2013.

The count of unsheltered homeless people will be conducted by numerous volunteers in four communities during a three-day period. The events are designed to provide homeless individuals and families with housing information, services, food, and hospitality in a one-stop model. Volunteers will be on hand to survey unsheltered homeless people at each venue, and to ensure they are connected with various services.

All of the data gathered from this effort will be compiled and presented in a written report.  The report will serve to improve local planning and implementation of effective services, preserve existing federal funding, assist in identification on new funding for services, and increase public awareness of homelessness throughout the County.

The Homeless Count events will include dozens of volunteers from throughout the County providing outreach to unsheltered homeless, while collecting data needed to improve services.  The Count effort is considerable and its success will be the results of the commitment of volunteers, the efforts of  service providers, and the willingness of the homeless to participate in this event.