Houston, Texas (September 9, 2025) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH)’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness found a total of 3,325 people  experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 27, 2025, in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, Texas. The results represent an increase of 45 people from the 2024 count, reflecting relative stability in the region’s overall homeless population but a notable shift in the distribution between sheltered and unsheltered individuals.

This year, the “PIT Count” found 1,282 people living unsheltered, a 15.8% increase since 2024. Meanwhile, the 2025 PIT Count found 2,043 people staying in shelter, a decrease of 6% from 2024. The rise in unsheltered homelessness is due in part to reduced shelter capacity in 2024, underscoring a critical lesson: without sufficient capacity and permanent housing flow, street homelessness grows.

“This year’s results underscore why we continue to advance strategies that move us toward ‘Equilibrium,’” said Kelly Young, President & CEO for CFTH. “In order to prevent homelessness, respond within 90 days, and ensure no one has to sleep outside while waiting for housing, we must invest in a system capable of meeting the full scale of need in our city and county.”

“Homelessness is a national problem that we are addressing locally. It is one of the reasons I ran for mayor and launched the Initiative to End Homelessness. We are making progress, and the challenges would be worse without our program," said City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire. "I have always believed there was an undercount of unhoused individuals on the streets. Our initiative brings together a coalition of nonprofits, service providers, and philanthropy partners to identify resources, including available beds and funding. Our goal is clear: no one should have to sleep outside, and we remain focused on achieving that goal."

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and the rise in people living in unsheltered conditions highlights the urgent need for Housing First solutions such as those supported by CFTH,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with community partners to address these growing challenges so we can create a world where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.”

“At a time when homelessness has surged nationally, the 2025 Count shows that our region has stayed remarkably stable. That stability is proof that our coordinated approach is working, with Harris County and the City of Houston leading the way,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “At the same time, the Count revealed that 8% of our unsheltered population are veterans. These are men and women who once wore our nation’s uniform, and now too many of them are sleeping on our streets. Harris County cannot and will not accept this. That is why I have been in Washington pushing for more resources to house veterans, while also working with Mayor Whitmire to strengthen our local veteran housing pipeline. Every veteran deserves not just thanks, but a safe, stable home — and I am committed to making that a reality”

“Addressing the root causes of homelessness remains one of Harris County’s most pressing challenges,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. “We’ve made strides with historic investments in wraparound services for our most vulnerable residents, allocating millions to Harris County’s Housing & Community Development, the Sheriff’s Office’s Homeless Outreach Team, Holistic Assistance Response Team, and The Harris Center. However, the data from this year’s Point-in-Time Count shows there is still work to be done. I am committed to working with my colleagues and community partners to expand these efforts to help eradicate homelessness.” 

While our system has helped thousands of people move from homelessness to housing, this year’s results highlight the need to broaden our approach. The End Street Homelessness Action Plan aims to build a system where no one sleeps outside, and homelessness can be resolved quickly through available overnight shelter linked to housing solutions, outreach, prevention, and care.

Other key findings from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count & Survey:

• More than 8,600 people were living in a housing program of The Way Home.
• About half (51.5%) of the unsheltered individuals had no matching record in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), indicating that many have not yet engaged with the formal homeless response system and the need for additional outreach capacity.
• 89% of people first experienced homelessness in Houston.
• 40% of unsheltered persons were experiencing homelessness for the first time (down from 45% in 2025).
• 20% of people cited family conflict as the main cause of their homelessness with next most cited reasons being financial e.g. lack of income (19.6%) and loss of a job (14%).
• More than half (56%) reported a mental health condition, and most of those (74%) said it significantly limited their ability to work or live independently. Nearly half (46%) reported a substance use disorder, with 60% of that group noting it also impaired their ability to maintain employment or housing stability. This underscores the need for integrated behavioral health and housing interventions to support this population.
• People who are Black or African American continue to be disproportionately represented, making up 56% of the total population of those experiencing homelessness but only account for 21% of the general population of Harris County.