New York City's Department of Homeless Services called for 3,000 volunteers Monday, Jan. 27, to help count the city's unsheltered homeless population.
Department of Homeless Services attorney Tonie Baez delivered the rules for the complicated task ahead.
Much of the volunteer's instructions centered around the temperature outside. When it's below freezing, during sustained winds or rain, a Code Blue calls for increased efforts from outreach teams and tonight was no different.
Volunteers were told they would encounter decoys, city workers posing as homeless residents waiting to be counted. No one would know who the decoys were until the questions with that individual were concluded.
And plenty of New York City's finest were on hand to handle any possible excitement.
Following a safety briefing on what to expect, some of us got into a van to patrol the train and subway stations, while others left on foot to count homeless residents in their designated zone.
Regardless of where we went, it looked to be a long night for everyone involved.
Penn Station was still full of people at 2 o'clock in the morning.
Surprisingly few were catching trains at this hour.
Volunteers were instructed to wake people ...
Even if they didn't appear to be homeless.
And ask them all a series of questions to help determine the best way for the area to support its homeless population.
Regardless of their condition, whether intoxicated or suffering from mental issues, everyone we asked recalled details about their plight at a word. Richard Henderson, 31, from Atlanta who left his parents' home in a fight over his sexuality years ago and never went back.
Though some people claimed not to be homeless at all, just between apartments or homes.
And some people refused to answer any questions at all.
The count went on deep into the morning.
While those whose job it is to help ease lives on the streets gathered crucial information ...
... it's a never-ending struggle ...
... in the city that never sleeps.
Some people the count may just never find.
