Homelessness Point-In-Time Count Sees Regional Improvement

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments reported a lower point-in-time count of homeless people in the DC region in 2021 than 2020, according to a new report.

For 21 consecutive years, the Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report has provided a one-day snapshot of people experiencing homelessness in nine localities: the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, District of Columbia, Fairfax County (including cities of Falls Church and Fairfax), Frederick County, Maryland, Loudoun County, Montgomery County, Maryland, Prince George's County, Maryland (including Bowie), and Prince William County (including Manassas and Manassas Park). The count occurred on Jan. 27, 2021.

For the region as a whole, the point-in-time count recorded 8,309 people experiencing homelessness, a decrease of 1,454 from 9,763 in 2020. It was also the lowest total for the region since the point-in-time count started 21 years ago.

The report concluded that existing homelessness prevention programs and increased federal assistance helped the region see a point-in-time decrease despite the COVID-19 pandemic's challenges.

"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, said Kristy Greenwalt, the COG Homeless Services Committee co-chair and District Interagency Council on Homelessness director. "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."

On a locality level, numbers fell in Alexandria, Arlington County, DC, Frederick County, Loudoun County, Montgomery County, and Prince William County. Meanwhile Fairfax County and Prince George's County saw increases.

The changes from 2020 to 2021 by locality were:

• City of Alexandria: 207 to 106, a decrease of 101
• Arlington County: 199 to 171, a decrease of 28
• District of Columbia: 6,380 to 5,111, a decrease of 1,269
• Fairfax County: 1,041 to 1,222, an increase of 181
• Frederick County: 308 to 223, a decrease of 85
• Loudoun County: 179 to 80, a decrease of 99
• Montgomery County: 670 to 577, a decrease of 93
• Prince George's County: 453 to 537, an increase of 84
• Prince William County: 326 to 282, a decrease of 44

Fairfax County's Office to Prevent and End Homelessness largely attributed the county's increase to the capacity to provide shelter through emergency COVID-19 federal funding and efforts of service providers to help unstably housed people.

"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 Tom Barnett, director of the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, in a statement. "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."

Even as the homeless count was lower, the incidence of chronic homelessness increased from 2020. Only Prince William County recorded a decrease from 2020 — for fewer chronically homeless people.

The change of veterans experiencing homelessness was minimal but marked an important milestone. The count of veterans was 406, which was 12 less than the previous year and the lowest count ever recorded in the region.

On another positive note, the report said the number of formerly homeless people in permanent housing surpassed 25,000. That includes 155 new people from 2020 to 2021 who were in permanent housing on the night of the point-in-time count.

The localities moved forward with the 2021 point-in-time count with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind. Because 88 percent of people experiencing homelessness on Jan. 27, 2021 were sheltered, much of the count could be done electronically through the Homeless Management Information System. For unsheltered individuals, precautions were taken such as use of personal protective equipment, health screenings for surveyors, and maintaining physical distancing.

The 2021 Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report and past years' reports can be viewed online.