Overall homelessness decreased by 26% in Montgomery County during the past year, according to data from the national Point In Time survey.
The population of unhoused residents in the county were hand-counted by volunteers, who walked local streets on Feb. 4, 2026 searching for anyone living outdoors. Also included in that night’s counting were people living in any one of the county’s 10 shelters or government-funded hotel room stays through transitional programs.
Overall, 1,117 people were counted by Point in Time volunteers. In the groups previous years’survey, 1,510 people were counted.
Altogether, there were 742 individuals counted, according to Christine Hong, chief of services to end and prevent homelessness in Montgomery County. There were 375 people with families counted this year, compared to 712 during the 2025 count. There were 53 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 counted, compared to 58 in 2025. Veterans experiencing homelessness dropped slightly, from 150 to 145, Hong noted.
According to the results of the count, there was a 47% reduction of families experiencing homelessness, which Hong called “huge.” There was a 48% observed reduction of unsheltered individuals. However, there was a 14% increase in homelessness among the chronically ill population.
“The only number that went up this year was the chronic homelessness,” Hong said. According to the federal government, chronically homeless people have a disability and have been homeless at least for one a year or during four separate occasions in the past three years.
Many of those living outside who were counted in the most recent survey were greeted with a bag filled with warm socks, a McDonald’s gift card, hand warmers and information about helping them find shelter.
Hong explained that the drop in people living outdoors was due partially due to the extreme cold during the time of the count. Staff involved with helping the homeless pushed hard this winter during the ice and snow and freezing temperatures to convince as many people as possible to go inside.
“We know the weather was a huge factor,” Hong said during County Executive Marc Elrich’s Wednesday, April 29 weekly meeting meeting with the press. “It was ice. It was extreme cold and subfreezing temperatures.”
She also noted that a one-night count is just a snapshot of the homeless population. However, she added, county records agree that there has been a drop in families living in shelters and hotels during the past year.
“We’ve seen a significant decrease” in the number of families who are homeless, Elich said. “The courts are getting caught up in evictions,” which Elrich said could result in an increase.
He credited the county’s Short-term Housing Resolution Program (SHARP), which provides security deposits, first month’s rent, additional rental subsidy and support in finding applicable resources in bringing more people into their own housing.
In the past year, more than 300 families received help through this program. “It’s more humane, and it’s cost effective,” Elrich said.
Currently, 60 families are living in hotels under a county program. Hong called that “a tremendous reduction.”
But Elrich noted, “We still have work to do.” He said that includes building more affordable housing.
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