Point In Time homelessness count takes place in Maricopa County
PHOENIX - The 2025 annual Point In Time count took place in Maricopa County on Jan. 28.
The count helps officials understand more about the homeless population, demographics and how fast it is growing.
Results from the count will not be available until later this year but in 2024, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) reported nearly 10,000 individuals were experiencing homelessness.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that number is closer to 14,000.
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Why you should care:
MAG's data shows that families facing homelessness have increased by nearly 15% over the last five years.
Additionally, a report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development stated that homelessness in the country increased by 18% in 2024.
Efforts were coordinated through MAG and other groups like A New Leaf where volunteers scoured the streets to find homeless residents to be included in the count.
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Homelessness increases by 18% in 2024. Inflation and rise in evictions are contributing factors.
The homeless issue in the U.S. and Arizona is still on the rise, driven by mental health, addiction, high eviction rates, and inflation, according to a new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Big picture view:
The final effort will help understand the scope of homelessness and ways to provide support.
Mental health and addiction issues continue to be main factors in those experiencing homelessness, but in Arizona, a high eviction rate coupled with inflation is leading to more families becoming unhoused.
Even through a massive effort to clear the homeless encampment known as The Zone, permanent solutions to the homelessness crisis have been hard to come by.
Featured
Homelessness increases by 18% in 2024. Inflation and rise in evictions are contributing factors.
The homeless issue in the U.S. and Arizona is still on the rise, driven by mental health, addiction, high eviction rates, and inflation, according to a new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Local perspective:
The event started at 7:00 a.m. and carried on throughout different parts of the Valley throughout the day.