Tahoe Volunteers Double to Help Count Homeless Population

When Mason Balison woke up before dawn on January 29, they knew exactly why the work mattered. As someone who once experienced homelessness themselves, Balison joined over 100 volunteers fanning out across South Lake Tahoe to count unsheltered people for El Dorado County's annual Point in Time Count.

That volunteer turnout nearly doubled the 50 to 60 people who typically participate. The surge matters because this single day of data collection determines how much federal funding the county receives for permanent housing, transitional programs, and rapid rehousing efforts.

The count happens every January as mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Teams of volunteers start at 6:00 a.m., covering assigned areas to count people sleeping in tents, cars, abandoned buildings, or transit stations.

First time volunteer Jac said they wanted to connect with the community while helping the unhoused population. Another volunteer who previously distributed care packages to homeless people in San Francisco noted that Tahoe's colder weather made the outreach even more critical.

The work isn't easy. People experiencing homelessness often hide to avoid being bothered or because they fear arrest. "When I was doing encampment outreach, there were times we could walk right past an encampment and not even know it was there," Balison explained.

Volunteers carry HUD survey questions and care packages filled with hand warmers, socks, hygiene items, gift cards for meals, and resource information. Some teams found several people, while others found none during their searches.

The Ripple Effect

The increased volunteer participation means more thorough coverage and better data, which translates to more accurate funding requests. In 2024, the county counted 135 unsheltered people, though volunteers acknowledge the snapshot nature means some go uncounted.

Balison recruited several new volunteers this year by emphasizing the human element. "These are people who, some of them, the system has failed them," they said. "This could be your family member: your brother, your sister. It could be just a couple of financial hardships that land someone on the street."

While some volunteers expressed disappointment at not finding more people, the consensus was clear: more volunteers mean better outreach. The data won't be finalized until later this year after HUD validation, but the community showed up when it mattered.

Doubling volunteer participation proves that when communities understand the direct impact of their time, people answer the call.