This journal article presents findings from a research project initiated by a community-academic partnership to count homeless youth and conduct a survey focused on the health needs of this population. After a four-week recruitment period, the authors counted 632 youth, of which 420 were directly surveyed for this study. They found the following methodologies were the most effective: 1) using an extended counting period, 2) applying broader inclusion criteria to capture those in unstable housing, 3) using student volunteers in health training programs, 4) recruiting from magnet events for high-risk youth, and 4) partnering with community agencies to disseminate the findings. The authors found that the following strategies did not facilitate recruitment: 1) respondent-driven sampling, 2) street canvassing beyond known hotspots, and 3) community agencies leading data collection efforts. Most youth completed the self-report survey and provided detailed information about risk behaviors. In addition, the survey results captured the different housing types, including youth staying in shelters or transitional housing (n=205), those in unstable housing (n=75), and those who were on the streets or living in uninhabitable places (n=140). The article includes recommendations on how to combine research data collection with counting. (author abstract modified)