I volunteered to help New York City track its homeless population. Here's what I learned.

• New York City recently conducted its annual survey of the unsheltered homeless.
• The count lasts all night and sends 1,500 volunteers to survey five boroughs.
• Business Insider sent a reporter to participate in the process.  

Shortly after 10 p.m. on a chilly Tuesday night in January, New York City's top officials gathered in an elementary school gymnasium in midtown Manhattan.

Mayor Eric Adams, flanked by officials from the Departments of Social Services and Homeless Services, kicked off the city's annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate. The city was about to send 1,500 volunteers to all five boroughs to collect data on the unsheltered homeless.