OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Volunteers have fanned across the Omaha metropolitan area to count homeless people who were taking shelter on the streets instead of in a nonprofit facility.

About 50 volunteers went out Thursday night in Douglas and Sarpy County in Nebraska and in Pottawattamie County across the Missouri River in Iowa. Officials say the yearly count of homeless people in and out of shelters is required for federal assistance and must occur during the last 10 days of January.

Figures from Thursday night’s count aren’t available yet, but the tally last year was nearly 1,500, with all but 44 of those staying in a shelter.