Region 6 Seeks Volunteers for Jamestown Homeless Count Jan. 27-28

Region 6 is seeking volunteers to conduct Jamestown’s annual point-in-time homeless count on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 27 through Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. The count will map both unsheltered and sheltered populations across Stutsman County and will be used to inform state and federal funding and local service planning.

Volunteer teams will canvass locations where people experiencing homelessness are known to congregate, including laundromats, apartment laundry rooms, warming centers and other gathering spots. Organizers emphasized that the count collects basic demographic information rather than detailed personal data, and that participation by volunteers is intended to improve the accuracy of local estimates used in grant applications and service delivery decisions.

Safety protocols are a central part of the operation. Organizers require teams of at least two volunteers and say they will coordinate with law enforcement where notification is needed. Those staffing the effort will also follow standard procedures to protect privacy and minimize intrusion during encounters. The Region 6 coordinator has solicited volunteers from local service agencies, faith groups and concerned residents to ensure broad coverage of Jamestown neighborhoods and service sites.

Point-in-time counts are a common tool used by counties and state agencies to measure homelessness at a snapshot in time. Data gathered this year will factor into planning for shelter capacity, outreach efforts and the allocation of grants that support housing programs. In previous statewide counts, communities used combined sheltered and unsheltered figures to prioritize investments and to make the case for targeted funding under state-administered programs and federal grant competitions.

For Stutsman County residents, an accurate count can directly affect the range and level of services available locally. Higher-resolution data helps local planners identify gaps in emergency housing, transportation to shelters, and daytime services such as warming centers and laundromats where outreach can be concentrated. Civic participation in the count is therefore a form of community-level input into how scarce public and nonprofit resources are distributed.

Region 6 coordinators are asking volunteers to sign up in advance and to commit to the safety guidelines that support both canvassers and the people they encounter. The count will be an opportunity for Jamestown residents to contribute tangible data that shapes funding and service decisions for the coming year. Organizers plan to compile the results after the count and use them in discussions with state and federal funders and local service partners.