News Releases

Phoenix (May 28, 2025) – Results from the 2025 Point in Time Homeless count (PIT count) are in, and the region has seen a 3 percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness, in particular among those living unsheltered – sleeping in parks, cars, and other places not meant for habitation. The count was conducted on January 28, 2025, as part of an annual nationwide effort to count homeless individuals.
 

Key Facts:

• Growth rate from 2024-2025:
  • Total PIT Count: up 3 percent
  • Unsheltered Count: up 28 percent
  • Sheltered count: down 16 percent 
• Note that the Safe Outdoor Space, an innovative approach by Phoenix, is counted by HUD as unsheltered but offers a significant level of care and safety that differs from other unsheltered situations.
• Between 2024 and 2025, federal funding expired for more than 1,000 shelter beds across the region. The funding was instrumental in reducing unsheltered homelessness over the last two years.
• The conditions leading to homelessness locally have not improved since last year. These include high rental costs and limited access to supportive services such as long-term care for older adults and mental health services.
• The landscape for funding remains challenging in light of proposed federal cuts to rental assistance and social service programs.
   

Why it is Important:

Rachel Milne is co-chair of the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care (CoC), which seeks to develop regional solutions to end homelessness. She notes this year’s PIT count highlighted challenges related to funding.

“Communities across our region, including the City of Phoenix, have been working hard to fill the gaps left by the expiration of temporary federal funds this past year,” said Milne. “Those funds did a lot for our community: they helped us design new ways to house and serve our unsheltered neighbors; they provided supportive services for seniors, families, and individuals to help end their homelessness; and they allowed us to increase the number of shelter beds available to provide a safe, indoor space for thousands of people in need.  We will continue to seek local, state, and federal funding to ensure that we can help prevent and end homelessness in our community.”

The count results will be used in the consolidated application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support homeless assistance programs. Since 1999, the CoC has received over $550 million in funding and currently supports over 32 homeless assistance programs with 11 agencies. This award has been an essential and consistent funding source for the community. Required by HUD, the annual Point in Time homelessness count occurs in each metropolitan region in the United States during the last 10 days in January and is coordinated by each region’s CoC. MAG coordinates the Maricopa Regional count, which provides a one-day snapshot of homelessness in Maricopa County. The count uses volunteer teams, including city, county, and state representatives; community and faith-based organizations; businesses; and private residents.

The PIT count is just one of many data sources that the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care Board relies on to understand homelessness. A primary source of data comes from the Homeless Management Information System, which is gathered daily when someone interacts with the homeless services system. Using this database, MAG produces a quarterly report that highlights trends in the populations experiencing homelessness as well as system performance measures in Maricopa County. These data help improve understanding of the region’s greatest needs and how to best allocate limited resources.
 

By The Numbers:

• Homelessness is up 1 percent since 2023.
• 9,734 people were experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County on the morning of January 28, 2025.
• 81 percent of those included in this year’s PIT count are adults aged 25+.
   

About CoC
The Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care (“CoC”) is a local planning body dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness across our region. Staffed by the Maricopa Association of Governments since 1999, the CoC works with member agencies and community partners in pursuing this goal. The CoC receives funding through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year, with which it supports more than 32 homeless assistance programs in 11 different agencies in the region. This HUD funding has been an important and consistent source of funding for the community.