Homeward Releases Data from Winter Point in Time Count 2025
Homeward today released data from the January 2025 Point in Time (PIT) count, which shows that a significant number of individuals and families continue to experience homelessness in the Richmond region. Lack of housing and economic hardship remain persistent challenges and driving factors for the elevated rates of homelessness in Central Virginia. Additionally, it’s important to note that these numbers do not capture other regional residents who are unstably housed or worried about maintaining a roof over their head.
You can read a press release about the most recent PIT count data here and explore the numbers on Homeward’s PIT webpage.
Let’s take a closer look at the data from the PIT count:
The January 2025 PIT count recorded 660 people experiencing homelessness, which is essentially unchanged from the PIT count in January 2024, which recorded 681 people experiencing homelessness.
The most recent PIT count recorded 517 people in shelter, including 80 children. Those individuals and families stayed in area shelters administered by a strong network of providers that include Bridges of Change, CARITAS, Daily Planet Health Services, Goochland Free Clinic, Hanover Safe Place, HomeAgain, Housing Families First, Liberation Veteran Services, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Safe Harbor, The Salvation Army, Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, and the YWCA Richmond.
The number of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness – those who were staying outdoors, in cars, and other places not meant for habitation – was 143 people, which is a decline from 206 people recorded as unsheltered in January 2024. Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness are served by street outreach workers from Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) agencies, including Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Daily Planet Health Services, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond Department of Social Services, and Virginia Home for Boys and Girls.
A primary reason for the decline in unsheltered homelessness in the January 2025 PIT count was the extreme cold. Due to the weather, additional warming shelters were available across the region during the week of the count, so many people who may have been staying outside in those temperatures were at a warming shelter. These individuals were counted at that shelter instead of outdoors for the purpose of the single-day count. These emergency weather resources are not designed to provide ongoing supports to assist people to get on a pathway to permanent housing and the individuals likely returned to unsheltered homelessness.
Families with minor children accounted for 5.5 percent of those experiencing homelessness. Approximately 45 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness were over 55 years old. The median age of those counted was 52, highlighting a growing trend of older adults in our region being pushed into homelessness.
Economic hardship and housing loss are leading causes of homelessness, according to those surveyed as part of the PIT count. Approximately 50 percent of respondents cited cost of housing, unemployment, or eviction as the primary reason they are experiencing homelessness. Additionally, more than 25 percent stated that the breakdown of a family or relationship was their primary cause for homelessness.
The Greater Richmond region’s level of homelessness has increased in recent years due to historic underfunding of homeless services, the lack of housing, and increased economic insecurity for many residents. This situation would be far worse if not for the coordinated efforts of GRCoC agencies. Those 34 local, mission-driven nonprofits serve over 1,000 people each day in our region through housing programs. In 2024 alone, GRCoC agencies helped to house over 1,516 individuals and people in families. Without these critical services, the rate of homelessness would rise exponentially.
