The Coalition for the Homeless (as lead agency to The Way Home) conducted the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count & Survey from January 25-28 of this year. This year’s results show The Way Home continuing a five-year trend in reducing homelessness, marking a one-year reduction of 21% since 2015 and a 57% cumulative reduction since 2011. The annual Count is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for The Way Home’s federal funding. The Way Home encompasses Houston, Harris County, Pasadena, and Fort Bend County.
On January 25, 2016, there were 3,626 total sheltered and unsheltered homeless people, compared to 4,609 on a given night identified in the 2015 Count, and 8,538 identified in 2011. There were no unsheltered families with minor children identified on the night of this year’s Count. There were 1,050 individuals identified as unsheltered, showing a 73% reduction unsheltered homelessness since 2011.
The 2016 Count & Survey was conducted using an enhanced methodology. It was led and organized by the Coalition for the Homeless in consultation with Dr. Cathy Troisi, associate professor, University of Texas School of Public Health. This new methodology was approved by HUD before execution