McKinney seeks 90-plus volunteers for Jan. 22 homelessness count

The City of McKinney is recruiting more than 90 volunteers to take part in the 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, a one-night census of people experiencing homelessness slated for Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. The city is partnering with Housing Forward and the Collin County Homeless Coalition to organize the local effort, which will survey both sheltered and unsheltered individuals across the area.

Organizers say the PIT Count is an annual, nationwide effort whose results guide local and regional planning and funding for services that address homelessness. McKinney officials are seeking at least 30 volunteers specifically to survey people at shelters and to distribute care packages at the Salvation Army and Grace House Community Church. Overall volunteer roles will include outreach, survey work and logistical support during the evening operation.

Participation requires mandatory training and check-in; schedule and check-in details are available on the city’s volunteer page. The city page also includes contact information and the volunteer sign-up link at McKinneyTexas.org/PITcount. Volunteers who complete training will join teams coordinated with nonprofit partners to ensure data collection is consistent and that distribution of supplies is handled safely.

For Collin County residents, the PIT Count is more than a one-night activity. The accuracy of the count affects how local providers and government agencies understand need, prioritize outreach, and allocate limited resources. A thorough, well-staffed local count helps ensure that funding and program planning reflect actual conditions in McKinney and neighboring communities.

The city’s partnership with Housing Forward and the Collin County Homeless Coalition underscores a cooperative approach between municipal government and service providers. For nonprofits that operate shelters and rapid-rehousing programs, volunteer support during the PIT Count eases the logistical burden of one-night surveys and can increase the amount of usable data returned to regional planners.

Civic engagement on the night of the count involves direct contact with vulnerable residents. Mandatory training and structured check-in aim to protect volunteers and those they contact, while standardizing data so it can be used in local and regional planning. Residents who volunteer will contribute to a process that informs outreach priorities and funding decisions for months to come.

Volunteers and residents who want to help or learn more can sign up and find training and contact details at McKinneyTexas.org/PITcount. The city’s Jan. 22 count offers a concrete way for the community to shape how homelessness services are planned and funded in Collin County.