The Guam Homeless Coalition (GHC) is actively recruiting 250 volunteers to assist with the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count scheduled for January 30, 2026. This annual initiative aims to provide a critical one-night snapshot of homelessness across the island, contributing essential data for addressing this pressing issue.
According to a GHC release, the information gathered during the PIT count is crucial for determining the minimum number of individuals experiencing homelessness. It also evaluates the effectiveness of current resources and identifies significant service gaps that require attention to better support Guam’s most vulnerable populations. Volunteers who wish to participate must be at least 18 years old and complete a mandatory five-hour training session, which covers best practices for sensitive engagements and detailed instructions for administering the PIT count survey.
Even those who have volunteered in previous years are required to participate in the training sessions. GHC has scheduled four training sessions in late January, all from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The sessions on January 20, January 21, and January 22 will take place at the Catholic Social Service Adult Daycare Center in Barrigada. An additional session will be conducted virtually on January 23. According to the PIT count registration webpage, volunteers who have participated three or more times in the PIT count may opt for virtual training.
Those interested in volunteering can register online at the GHC’s designated form. The registration deadline is January 16, although it may close earlier once the coalition secures 250 volunteers.
Recent reports from the GHC’s 2025 Housing and Homelessness Summit indicated a significant decrease in overall homelessness on Guam, which dropped by 31%, based on preliminary results from the 2025 PIT count. Nonetheless, GHC Chair Aja Ramos highlighted a concerning trend among children and families, the fastest-growing segment of Guam’s homeless population.
Official reports emphasize that many of these cases represent “hidden homelessness,” with families often staying with relatives, living in overcrowded conditions, or moving between temporary accommodations. These situations frequently go unaccounted for in official counts like the PIT count, obscuring the true extent of homelessness on the island.
GHC officials attribute the rise in family homelessness to several factors, including increasing rent prices, stagnant wages, high childcare costs, and domestic instability. Addressing these complexities is essential for understanding and mitigating the challenges faced by families experiencing homelessness in Guam.
