FARMINGTON — A “Point in Time” count will be taken Jan. 28 of those who are considered homeless.

The annual count, conducted yearly in Utah, involves trying to determine how many people are homeless to the extent they may be sleeping in cars.

Law enforcement agencies will check those places where they usually spot people considered homeless, while other agencies will also be involved.

For example, the county jail and hospitals will be asked to determine who would be considered homeless that night who has been in their emergency rooms or incarcerated.

Lloyd Pendleton of Bountiful, who heads the state’s homelessness reduction effort, said chronic homeless numbers are down 28 percent nationally. In Utah, meanwhile, they’ve dipped 3 percent.

These figures don’t necessarily take into account the economic downturn which might mean numbers have moved up, recently.

“The Road Home (Salt Lake City homeless shelter) is housing about 200 more people per night than a year ago,” Pendleton said.

“In Tooele, they are housing nine to 15 more per night than previously,” he said.

The national downturn may be due, in part, to “a lot of effort” that has seen the increase of housing to house the homeless by 140,000 units, he said. New homeless housing units have also been opened in Salt Lake City, with an effort under way for a complex to open in Davis County, as well.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com