The Maricopa Association of Governments sent hundreds of volunteers across the county Tuesday for its annual count of homeless people.
Nicky Stevens, program manager for the count, says the stories of homeless people can be painful to hear, such as the woman who wound up on the streets six days after surgery.
“Just to hear that she had open heart surgery and is now sleeping on the streets was very heartbreaking," Stevens said.
The count is done to help the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set funding levels.
The count was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
