GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - The number of homeless families in the Grand Valley is increasing.

Many have lost jobs in this economy, and it's not always easy to find a new one.

Starting tonight and for the next three days, the Point in Time survey will track just how many people in the valley are homeless.

This survey helps Mesa County figure out how much funding is needed for homeless assistance programs.

"The police who form the Homeless Outreach Team know where the camps are located, and they know many of the homeless in the community, and so they will be doing the count for those who perhaps are living in places not fit for human habitation, camps along the river, where ever it may be," said Sister Karen Bland with Grand Valley Catholic Outreach.

For the next three days, homeless shelters and services will give a survey to every person who comes through their doors, asking where they slept on the night of Jan. 22.

The Grand Valley Catholic Outreach hopes to get every homeless person in the county to fill out a survey over the next few days for an accurate count.