Homelessness In DC

On any given night in the District of Columbia there are 3,705 single persons and 1,172 adults and children in 389 family households who are experiencing homelessness.

These households include:

    • 825 unsheltered persons (i.e. persons “on the street”);

    • 3,029 persons in Emergency Shelters; and

    • 1,068 persons in Transitional Housing facilities.

Below are some key factors that affect a person's vulnerability for homelessness.

Demographics

A person’s age, ethnicity, gender, and race will all affect how they engage the homeless services system.

Health and Disabilities

Overall,  the health of individuals still being served by the homeless services system is poor.

Experiences

A person’s experience with domestic violence, the foster care system, and institutional settings can affect how they interact with the homeless services system. 

Income & Employment

Most individuals experiencing homelessness are unable to obtain an income that can support their housing either through employment or benefit programs.

Subpopulations

While the number of transitional age youth, veterans, and those who identify as LGBTQ+ is relatively small, understanding the ways in which these populations engage with the homeless services system is critical. 

Dashboards

Explore our data dashboards to better understand the District’s CoC system performance and the demographics of those experiencing homelessness.

2023 Point-in-Time Count Dashboard

Central Question: How many households experience homelessness, and what are their characteristics?

Update Frequency: Annually

Description: The annual Point-in-Time Count helps the CoC better understand the scope and scale of homelessness in the District. In addition to a total count of individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, the PIT Count creates a snapshot of the demographic characteristics and needs of those households that aids the CoC in planning resources to meet the need

FY22 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Dashboard

Central Question: How is our system performing?

Update Frequency: Annually

Description: To monitor performance on the District’s goals for the CoC, the ICH, DHS, and TCP established the CoC’s KPIs – system wide performance metrics that track progress made toward Homeward DC’s vision of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.