According to a new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), there are 8,309 people experiencing homelessness in the region. This is the smallest number of people recorded since the region began coordinating on an annual enumeration 20 years ago. 

The report, Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington, is a one-day snapshot of the region’s residents experiencing homelessness and contains data from nine area jurisdictions. 

The data revealed 1,454 fewer homeless individuals in 2021 than the year prior. This is a significant drop from the decrease reported between 2019 and 2020 (just 31 fewer individuals), and a continuation of the five-year downward trend in homelessness. 

Another positive finding was the number of formerly homeless persons, or those in permanent housing, surpassed 25,000 people.

Area homeless services organizations and agencies found solutions for moving forward with the point-in-time count in January despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

“The homeless enumeration took place under unique circumstances, and it will take time to understand the long-term impact of the public health emergency on homelessness and housing instability in the region,” stated COG Homeless Services Committee Co-Chair and District Interagency Council on Homelessness Director Kristy Greenwalt. “Tenant protections such as the eviction moratorium and emergency housing assistance helped immensely in the short term, but it will take significantly more housing affordable to those at the lowest incomes in every jurisdiction to continue this forward progress.”

The report pointed to strong existing homelessness prevention programs and increased federal resources such as CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding as additional reasons the region achieved a decrease in homelessness under such difficult circumstances.

Results at the Local Level

Seven of the nine participating metropolitan Washington jurisdictions recorded decreases in the number of persons experiencing homelessness from 2020 to 2021, and also over the five-year period of 2017 to 2021.

However, among homeless adults in the region, the incidence of being chronically or continuously homeless has increased.  

“While most residents were able to stay home to prevent their exposure to COVID-19 over the last year, those without a permanent place to live have faced challenging circumstances,” said COG Homeless Services Committee Co-Chair and Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness Director Tom Barnett. “Housing saves lives. This annual enumeration helps us to continue to understand how the homeless services system can respond, coordinate, and adapt to help those in our community facing a housing crisis.”

Families, Children, and Veterans

The PIT report provides extensive data on families, children, and many subpopulations. For example:

• The number of families experiencing homelessness is down 57 percent since 2017.
• Children represent 17 percent of the region’s total homeless population (1,433), decreasing slightly from the year prior.
• There are a growing number of senior citizens facing a housing crisis or seeking emergency shelter in the region—1,141 people, including 123 unsheltered older adults.
• The number of veterans experiencing homelessness was the lowest ever recorded this year—406 people, down 16 percent from five years ago.
• With the exceptions of Frederick and Loudoun Counties, persons experiencing homelessness are disproportionately Black or African American.
• According to the report, key challenges remain to addressing homelessness in the region—including high rents, stagnant wages, and a lack of housing affordable to the lowest-income households.

During 2020, COG endorsed a Regional Compact to End Homelessness, setting forth a vision for regional cooperation to create a client-centered approach to ending the experience of homelessness by identifying and breaking down barriers to get people the resources they need.

The report was compiled by the COG Homeless Services Planning and Coordination Committee. Participating jurisdictions are: the City of Alexandria; Arlington County; the District of Columbia; Fairfax County, including data from the City of Falls Church and the City of Fairfax; Frederick City and County; Loudoun County; Montgomery County; Prince George’s County, including data from the City of Bowie; and Prince William County, including data from the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park.

MORE: Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington: Results and Analysis from the Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Persons Experiencing Homelessness