Volunteers Ready for Annual Count of the Homeless

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - Thousands of volunteers will join New York City's homeless Services Commissioner Monday night to count the number of people living on the streets.

WCBS 880 Reporter Ginny Kosola spoke with Bronx Councilwoman Annabel Palma among the volunteers.

WCBS 880 Reporter Ginny Kosola gets details on the program.

"I am bundled up, I have my boots and my gloves and hat and scarf," said Palma. "Some people greet you and say thank you, others have taken the information and actually gone to drop-in centers and shelters."

There is a "code blue" during Monday overnight because of the wintry conditions. That means the city's department of homeless services will double its outreach effort to help those out in the cold.

According to HOPE (Homeless Outreach Population Estimate) 3,111 homeless were counted in 2010. That number was up from the 2009 number of 2,328.

HOPE held its first annual street survey in 2005.

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