By james art 
San Bernardino County mobilized hundreds of volunteers, including members of the Board of Supervisors, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Josie Gonzales, county employees, community groups, homeless service providers, stakeholders, and individuals, on Jan. 23 to canvass cities, towns, and unincorporated communities. The effort was aimed at supporting non-mowers and collecting vital data during the Annual Weather Count (PITC).
“Addressing homelessness is among our top priorities,” said Board of Supervisors Chairwoman and Third District Supervisor Zoratha Rowe. “I am extremely grateful that our county departments, community partners and volunteers come together to make the annual count a successful effort.”
As a further enhancement to this year’s PITC, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is collaborating with county and community service providers to implement Homeless Community Liaison Teams to support real-time services and shelter.
In addition, a health and safety fair was hosted this morning by OHS and the City of Colton to provide non-incapacitated individuals with access to showers, health and dental exams, vaccinations, behavioral health services, information on animal care services and assistance with enrolling in Medi-Cal and Calfresh.
“The annual count is more than just a data collection,” said OHS Chief Marcus Dillard. “It’s also about connecting the homeless community with housing, healthcare, mental health support and other services to help them get back on their feet.”
The data from 2024 PITCs show the county’s homeless population at 4,237, which grew 1 percent in 2024, compared to 26 percent in 2023. and 6.6 percent in 2022. After all, last year’s results show progress in solving this issue. The annual number is critical to securing grant funding to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. PITC 2025 results will be shared in the coming months.