2021 Homeless Count Results Suggest Housing-Focused Pandemic Response Kept Numbers Down
Caybryn Southern • March 24, 2021
One in seven unsheltered individuals surveyed cited COVID-19 as the reason for their homelessness
Houston, Texas (March 24, 2021) — The Coalition for the Homeless’ 2021 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey found a total of 3,055 individuals experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 19, 2021 — 1,545 people staying in shelter (51%) and 1,510 people living unsheltered (49%) — in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, Texas.
Due to methodology changes enacted to protect the health and safety of all parties involved in the Count, and because of the unique circumstances created by the Coronavirus, the results of the 2021 Count are not directly comparable to those of years past.
While direct comparisons to previous years cannot be made, the Homeless Count data and information from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS, administered by the Coalition) can be used to draw reasonable conclusions about the pandemic’s impact on homelessness in the Houston region. For example, the number of sheltered individuals might have been higher if not for factors such as: limited bed availability due to social distancing protocols, and the potential reluctance of those experiencing homelessness to stay in a shelter due to fear of contracting the virus.
The Homeless Count was also able to shed some initial insights on the impacts of COVID on new episodes of homelessness. On the night of the Count, one in seven people experiencing unsheltered homelessness cited the Coronavirus as the reason for their homelessness, many of them specifically citing job loss or reduction in work hours and/or eviction as the triggering event.
The ongoing eviction moratorium, even if only a temporary measure, has likely prevented more people in the region from falling into homelessness.
Data also suggest that the unsheltered number may have been higher if not for the innovative Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP), a $65M housing-focused pandemic response that will serve approximately 5,000 people experiencing homelessness by fall 2022.
“While we don’t yet know the full scope of how many people have fallen — or will fall — into homelessness due to the pandemic, we believe that without the Community COVID Housing Program, the number of people experiencing homelessness in our region on the night of our Count would very likely have been higher,” said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition.
Last year, the Coalition partnered with the City of Houston and Harris County to create the CCHP in order to accelerate the work of the local homeless response system, The Way Home Continuum of Care. Between Oct. 1, 2020, which marked the launch of CCHP, and Jan. 19, 2021, the night of record for the Count, almost 800 people — most of whom were previously unsheltered — were permanently housed.
The City of Houston and Harris County have allocated $39 million and $18 million in federal CARES Act funding to the CCHP, respectively, representing an unprecedented coordinated effort on the part of the City and the County to address homelessness in the region. Because of underlying health conditions and lack of access to facilities, people experiencing homelessness are more susceptible to COVID and, if infected, more likely to experience serious complications or death.
“It appears that we have avoided a surge in homelessness — for now,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “This is of no coincidence, but due to the wise and targeted investment of new sources of funding; our usage of permanent housing as an infectious diseases control response; and the ingenuity and hard work of our homeless response system. Addressing homelessness is a top priority for the city, and we are proud to allocate substantial resources to this innovative program. But the pandemic is not over, and we are not out of the woods yet. Now is not the time to let our guard down. Continued investment in homelessness prevention and response will be necessary to keep a homelessness crisis at bay.”
"The CCHP is the most comprehensive and evidence-based investment in addressing homelessness in our region’s history,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “The early results of the program are a promising sign that we are moving in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean we will rest on our laurels. I recognize that addressing a challenge as complex as homelessness will require sustained effort, and we look forward to continuing our work with all involved.”
The Coalition coordinates the annual Count on behalf of The Way Home. The Count informs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the effectiveness of collaboration and homeless programs in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The annual Count cannot provide an exact number of people experiencing homelessness for several reasons, including the daily fluctuating number and the large size (3,700+ square miles) of the area being canvassed. However, it is considered a critical metric and is highly effective at illustrating trends over time. The Count results are combined with additional data points, like the information stored in the HMIS, to gauge progress of the local homeless response system. After the pandemic, the Coalition intends to return to methodologies used in years past in order to be able to draw more direct comparisons and view trends in homelessness over time.
As in past years, the 2021 Count & Survey data was analyzed by the Coalition in consultation with Dr. Cathy Troisi, associate professor, University of Texas School of Public Health. The full Homeless Count & Survey Independent Analysis is available online here
and a one-page fact sheet is available here.
For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here.
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The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide leadership in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. Learn more at www.homelesshouston.org.
The Way Home is the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. For more information visit www.thewayhomehouston.org.
For media interviews/inquiries please contact Madison Mann, CKP, at madison@theckpgroup.com.
Houston, Texas (June 12, 2026) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) today released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count & Survey as part of the inaugural State of Homelessness in Houston report, a regional effort that combines PIT Count data with additional system indicators to provide a broader understanding of homelessness and system response across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The report found 3,321 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in February 2026, reflecting relative stability compared to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count of 3,325. At the same time, the data highlights continued challenges related to unsheltered homelessness, economic and housing pressures, and the ongoing need for coordinated regional investment in homeless response and prevention efforts. This year’s report expands beyond the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to include additional indicators generated through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and HUD System Performance Measures (SPMs). Together, these measures provide additional context about year-round interactions with the homeless response system, housing stability outcomes, and inflow into homelessness over time. "The Point-in-Time Count is like a photograph," said Renee Cavazos-Benavides, vice president of the homeless response system at CFTH . "It captures an important moment, but there is always more happening outside the frame. That's why this year's report includes additional indicators that help us understand how people move into homelessness, how they move back into housing, and where we need to focus our efforts as a community." Key findings from the report include: 3,321 people experiencing homelessness during the February 2026 PIT Count 35,988 unique clients served through the homeless response system, The Way Home, during calendar year 2025 2,135 households housed by partners of The Way Home during calendar year 2025 7,110 people entering homelessness for the first time during federal FY25 85% of people who exited homelessness remained stably housed over a two-year period The PIT Count found 2,051 sheltered individuals and 1,270 unsheltered individuals across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. "The additional data shows our system is doing a great job maintaining our progress, in spite of additional economic stressors and pandemic funding having been exhausted,” said Kelly Young, president and CEO of CFTH . “Further progress will depend not only on additional investments in housing and services but also on our ability to expand new interventions to resolve homelessness more quickly." More than half of unsheltered individuals identified during the PIT Count had a matching HMIS record, reflecting ongoing engagement between outreach teams and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The findings underscore the continued need for outreach, additional pathways indoors, and sustained local investment to maintain system stability and respond to changing community needs. “The Point-in-Time Count gives our community a chance to pause and check in with people who may not yet be housed, sheltered, or consistently connected to services,” said Dr. Ben King, clinical assistant professor at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine . “It helps us capture information that does not always show up in routine system data — including where people are staying, what barriers they are facing, and what they identify as the causes of their homelessness. Used alongside HMIS data, program performance measures, and community input, the PIT Count remains an important tool to answer questions we wouldn't get to ask otherwise." The annual PIT Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and helps communities measure trends in homelessness over time. However, the PIT Count does not represent the total number of people who experience homelessness throughout the year. The 2026 State of Homelessness in Houston report combines PIT Count data with other key indicators to provide a more complete picture of homelessness across the region. Behind every number is a person, and a better understanding of homelessness helps communities respond more effectively. "The results remind us that homelessness is one of the most complex challenges facing our city. This is why the 419 Emancipation resource living facility is so important. We will continue working with stakeholders to move people off the streets and provide them with assistance, with the goal of reducing homelessness throughout our community and our neighborhoods," said Mayor John Whitmire. “I’m so proud that Harris County has reduced homelessness by more than 16% between 2018 and 2026, even when most other communities have seen homelessness skyrocket. We’re tackling the issue from both ends: we’re investing in programs to prevent poverty and promote economic mobility, and we’re also prioritizing safe and stable housing for those experiencing homelessness. Our community is only as successful as our most vulnerable residents, and I want to thank the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, and all of our other local partners who have helped turn Harris County into a national model for reducing homelessness,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. "The 2026 Point-in-Time Count confirms that our region has remained stable while homelessness has increased in many other parts of the country. However, stability is not enough when over a thousand of our neighbors are still sleeping outside. I’m grateful to the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, outreach teams, law enforcement, service providers, and volunteers for showing that a coordinated local approach can help move people from crisis toward housing,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “As a former street cop and sheriff, I know we do not solve homelessness by simply moving people from one place to another. We solve it by treating people with dignity, connecting them to services, and creating real pathways to housing. I remain committed to working with our partners to prevent homelessness, support our veterans and most vulnerable residents, and make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Harris County." “Harris County’s stability in the Point‑in‑Time Count stands out against the sharp increase in homelessness seen nationwide since the pandemic,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones . “These results reflect years of continued investment in strengthening partnerships and expanding critical services, including two new emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence. We know there is much more work ahead, and I remain committed to working alongside our partners to prevent and ultimately end homelessness in our community.” “Even with limited new funding and few new programs launched during this reporting period, Houston has remained relatively stable. What this latest data underscores is the need to continue investing in service-connected solutions like 419 Emancipation,” said Mike Nichols, Director of the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department . “Now that 419 is operational, we are optimistic this triage, transition, and treatment model will help connect more individuals to care, services, and clear pathways toward stability. Behind every number is a real person, and our goal is to ensure more Houstonians are connected to the right support and a stronger path forward.” The full report and methodology appendix are available online here. The executive summary is available online here. The State of Homelessness report is available online here. For more information about the PIT Count and The Way Home homeless response system, visit www.cfthhouston.org. For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here . For photos and B roll of volunteers conducting this year’s PIT Count, click here . ### The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is the backbone of Houston’s solutions to homelessness. It’s a nonprofit organization that uses the power of collective impact to move people experiencing homelessness into housing solutions. Learn more at www.cfthhouston.org . The Way Home is the homeless response system for Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. It’s a public-private partnership — a network of dozens of homeless service providers and other government, philanthropic, and business partners. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), a 501c3, is the designated coordinator of The Way Home.
Every year, Houston’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count helps provide a snapshot of homelessness across the region. But as speakers emphasized during CFTH Presents: The PIT Count — Behind the Numbers , no single number can fully explain homelessness, or the work required to address it. Hosted by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), the discussion brought together leaders from outreach, data systems, and public health to explore how Houston measures homelessness, why the PIT Count matters, and how year-round data helps guide the region’s homelessness response system.
Houston, Texas (February 24, 2026) – This week, the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is leading the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey (“PIT Count”) to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness across Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. “We may see a slight uptick in the number this year, but we have a plan,” said Kelly Young, President & CEO of CFTH. “With the support of the City of Houston, Harris County, and private funders, we have been piloting new interventions to shorten the length of time people in our region experience homelessness. With adequate funding, we look forward to expanding those interventions to help people regain lives of self-determination.” CFTH coordinates the Houston region’s public-private homeless response system, The Way Home . Through this collaboration, The Way Home partners have successfully housed over 36,000 people since 2012. CFTH will release the results of Houston’s 2026 PIT Count in the summer, following independent verification by an epidemiologist. These findings will provide insight into how factors such as increases in the cost of living and the end of federal pandemic relief funding have impacted homelessness in our region. More information about the 2026 Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey The PIT Count offers a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in our region on a single night. This year, the “night of record” is Monday, Feb. 23. CFTH determines the number of people staying in shelters on that night by pulling records electronically from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) . The unsheltered count will be conducted on the following days, from Tuesday, Feb. 24 to Thursday, Feb. 26. More than 400 volunteers and staff of local nonprofit service provider partners will canvass the three-county region to survey people living unsheltered, using an app on their mobile devices. Results from the 2026 PIT Count will help gauge the progress of The Way Home’s ongoing collaborative efforts. It will also help CFTH and partner homeless outreach teams understand geographic shifts and target their outreach throughout the year. The PIT Count illuminates specific programmatic gaps and provides additional information needed to allocate resources most efficiently. The PIT Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the annual Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process. HUD furnishes the majority of funding for programs that provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness in the region. In 2024, HUD granted more than $71 million to the Houston area.
