The Maricopa Association of Governments will be conducting its annual homeless count tomorrow morning. The effort is part of a federal requirement for the county to qualify for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Beginning around 5:30, a group of about 300 volunteers will patrol the streets and local homeless shelters to find and survey individuals experiencing homelessness.
In 2014, program officials reported a 33 percent decrease in the number of people sleeping on the streets and a 13 percent increase in those spending the night in a shelter. Brande Mead is with the Maricopa Association of Governments.
"It’s about a 20-question survey where we’re collecting additional information about factors that led to their homelessness," Mead said.
Mead said results from this year's survey should be released in May.