Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, also known as HOPE, is an annual event that highlights homelessness throughout the five boroughs.

During the event, which will take place on Jan. 23 this year, dozens of New Yorkers volunteer to help the city and the Department of Social Services estimate the number of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness by identifying people experiencing homelessness over a single night. Volunteers are typically out for several hours on what is usually a cold winter night.

Molly Wasow Park, the department’s commissioner, joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” Friday to discuss the annual event.

“This administration is really committed to addressing issues of unsheltered homelessness, and we need to continue the services to be able to do that,” she said, adding that the department placed 1,000 unsheltered individuals into permanent housing last year.

DSS oversees homeless services and the Human Resources Administration.

This is the event’s second year bringing volunteers back into action since the pandemic.

According to HOPE, there were 4,042 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the city on Jan. 24, 2023.