Compassionate Volunteers in the Night: Los Angeles Fo Guang Members Participate in Homeless Count
By Pan Ching-Hsia, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count was conducted during the evenings of January 20–22. The results of the count help government agencies plan social service budgets, housing initiatives, and the allocation of support resources. On the evening of January 21, Venerable Huicheng of the Department of Social Education and Outreach at Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple, BLIA Los Angeles Chapter Vice President Avelyn Busch, and seven other Fo Guang members participated in the homeless count in Hacienda Heights. Guided by compassion and service, they embodied the spirit of “compassionate volunteers in the night” while contributing to the community on a cold winter evening.
Venerable Huicheng noted that Fo Guang Shan founder, the late Venerable Master Hsing Yun, advocated compassion and emphasized community service and public well-being through Humanistic Buddhism. By participating in the homeless count, Fo Guang members transformed their compassion into action, a contribution worthy of recognition.
The Hacienda Heights Homeless Count was jointly organized by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), California State Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. The orientation session was held at the Hacienda Heights Community and Rec Center and attended by District 56 Director Ruby Duenas, East Los Angeles Area Director Antonio Chapa of Los Angeles County’s First District, and Deputy Area Director Ryan Serrano.
Ruby Duenas shared that 35 volunteers participated in the count that evening, exceeding expectations and creating an encouraging level of community involvement. Ryan Serrano emphasized the importance of the homeless count in planning social welfare budgets and expressed his appreciation by applauding the volunteers for their service.
Following the orientation, volunteers formed teams and drove into the night. Adhering to the principles of safety, respect, and non-interference, they followed assigned routes using a navigation app to ensure accurate data collection. Volunteers recorded the number of unhoused individuals found on streets, in parks, parking lots, and beneath bridges, while also noting signs of habitation such as tents, shopping carts, and occupied vehicles. It was not until nearly 10:00 p.m. that volunteers gradually returned and reported their findings.
Each volunteer received a certificate of appreciation. Fo Guang member Ching Pan remarked that although the homeless count may appear simple, it requires teamwork, keen observation, and careful attention to detail. After spending hours driving through neighborhoods, fatigue was inevitable, but she felt the survey was both necessary and meaningful and was grateful for the opportunity to participate.
Photo Captions (Photos 01–03 courtesy of BLIA Los Angeles Association; Photo 04 courtesy of Kuo Chao-Hua)
