Alameda County to request exemption from counting homeless population Nirvana Ellaboudy/File According to EveryOne Home staff, the spread of COVID-19 in Alameda County has led to health concerns and barriers for acquiring an accurate and reliable count of the homeless population. The count is usually recorded in January every two years. As a result of COVID-19 concerns, Alameda County will request a waiver not to conduct its biennial, federally mandated count of homeless residents this year. According to EveryOne Home, an organization aimed at ending homelessness in Alameda County, the count aims to help determine funding, measure changes in the population, improve services, and assess subpopulations including veterans, families, unaccompanied children and more. The data is normally collected through a point-in-time count by EveryOne Home; however, the organization noted concerns due to the current state of the pandemic.