News Releases

Phoenix (May 18, 2026) – Results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homelessness Count are in, with total numbers holding steady year over year. Flat numbers in a growing region are themselves a meaningful sign. As the Maricopa region’s population continues to climb, holding the overall count steady and reducing the unsheltered population demonstrates important progress.

Key Facts:

• Changes from 2025 to 2026 Census:
  • Total PIT Count: down less than 1 percent
  • Unsheltered Count: down 12 percent
  • Sheltered Count: up 14 percent

• Availability of affordable housing, high rental costs, and limited access to supportive services such as long-term care for older adults and mental health services remain factors that contribute to the number of homeless individuals in the region.
• Creative solutions are making a difference. Phoenix’s Safe Outdoor Space is a structured campground that provides case management, meals, hygiene services, and pathways out of homelessness. While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not formally consider this site a shelter, Safe Outdoor Space is reducing unsheltered homelessness on the street even when the federal count does not reflect it.
• The count was conducted on the morning of January 27, 2026, as part of an annual nationwide effort to count homeless individuals.
• The count results will be used in the consolidated application to HUD for grant funding to support homeless assistance programs in the region. This award has been an essential and consistent source of funding for the community.

Why It Is Important:

Results of the 2026 PIT Count reinforce what the region's system performance measures are showing: fewer people are entering into homelessness for the first time. Work remains to shorten the time people spend homeless and to reduce how often they return, but this year's results point toward the kind of trend the region is working to build on.

"The most encouraging part of this year's count is that more people are sheltered," said Tim Burch, Co-Chair of the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care and city of Tempe’s director of community health and human services. "When someone is in shelter, they're connected to services and case management, and that's how people move out of homelessness. That's the direction we want to keep moving."

The PIT Count is an annual street and shelter count that determines the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County at a given point in time. This count is part of a national effort to identify the extent of homelessness throughout the country. It includes a brief survey to identify the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the community. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates the PIT Count each year on behalf of the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care (CoC) using volunteer teams, including city, county, and state representatives; community and faith-based organizations; businesses; and members of the public.

The PIT Count is an annual street and shelter count that determines the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County at a given point in time. This count is part of a national effort to identify the extent of homelessness throughout the country. It includes a brief survey to identify the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the community. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates the PIT Count each year on behalf of the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care (CoC) using volunteer teams, including city, county, and state representatives; community and faith-based organizations; businesses; and members of the public.

The PIT Count is just one of many data sources the CoC relies on to understand homelessness. A primary data source for the region is the Homeless Management Information System, which records an individual’s interactions with the homeless services system. Using this database, the CoC produces a quarterly report that highlights trends among populations experiencing homelessness and system performance measures. These data points help improve understanding of the region’s greatest needs and how to allocate limited resources.

By The Numbers:

• 9,726 individuals were counted
• 5,159 individuals were in shelters
• 4,567 individuals were in unsheltered situations
• 201 individuals were counted in Phoenix’s Safe Outdoor Space
• 611 families, comprising 2,103 individuals, were counted; 556 families were in shelters, and 55 families were in unsheltered situations
• Largest growth by age: children under 18 (up 15 percent) and adults over 65 (up 13 percent)

This year's count identified 500 unaccompanied youth — young people age 24 and younger experiencing homelessness without a parent or guardian — in Maricopa County. A separate statewide effort to count youth experiencing homelessness was also conducted this spring. Results are expected to be released later in 2026.