Volunteers in the early morning hours on Thursday will be counting those experiencing homelessness across the city for Long Beach’s annual point-in-time homeless count.

While homeless populations swelled across much of the region last year, Long Beach saw only a slight increase compared to its previous count in 2017. In 2019, the city counted 1,863 unsheltered people, for a 2% increase.

In comparison, Los Angeles County, which started its annual homeless count on Tuesday, showed an increase of 12% countywide, while Orange County saw an increase of more than 40% last year.

The point-in-time count, which was previously biannual, helps to gauge the total population and demographics while helping to determine how much county funding the city will receive.

The city’s 2017 homeless count showed a 20 percent decrease compared to the 2015 count, which found more than 2,300 people experiencing homelessness.

Officials have said the numbers may appear higher because the homeless have spread out across the city rather than clustering in encampments. Long Beach has been able to reduce its homeless population in part thanks to having its own health department that coordinates with local services, officials have said.

Last year’s report showed the largest concentrations of homeless were located near the Wrigley area and the city’s westside. The report also showed a troubling statistic that over half of those surveyed during the count said they were homeless for the first time.

The city has made a number of recent efforts to address homelessness, including passing an ordinance for renter relocation assistance and the purchase of a year-round homeless shelter slated to open later this year.