The Mid City West Community Council (MCWCC) is looking for people to join them in volunteering with the 2015 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m.

MCWCC in partnership with the National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW) will host a local deployment site located at 543 N. Fairfax Ave.

Every two years the Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency (LAHSA) conducts a homelessness census. The goal is to count the homeless population living in Los Angeles in order to provide data to local homeless assistance programs, so they can improve their services.

The LAHSA website declares that the Homeless Count is the first step in ending homelessness. Officials said that by knowing who and where homeless people are in Los Angeles County, they are better able to plan and identify resources to provide vital services to the homeless, and ultimately move families and individuals into housing.

The effort is countywide and will require over 6,000 volunteers for one night of data collecting.

In the Mid City West region, the official neighborhood council has partnered with NCJW to recruit, train and host local volunteers participating in the effort.

On the night of the count, volunteers will receive training on how to observe and record their local homeless population.  Then volunteers will be sent in groups to walk assigned routes and collect the crucial data. They return to the deployment site to turn in the data.

The homeless count will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Jan. 29. Volunteers can sign up at lahsa.nationbuilder.com/mid_city_west.