Homelessness in the Washington DC Area as Described by Official Reports, 2022

The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress covers metropolitan Washington, DC as well as surrounding counties. The results show that the percentage of people experiencing homelessness dropped from 2010 to 2017. However, the number of unsheltered persons has edged up in the past few years (Chart 1). Three area counties reported over 100 children living in families experiencing homelessness. Counting Washington, DC, more than 2,000 children were living with homelessness in 2020.

 But there are bright spots. Washington DC reduced the number of families living with homelessness. That number dropped by nearly 50%, from 4,667 in 2016 to 2,431 in 2020. The successes in reducing homelessness were hard-won and should be celebrated. But, there are still over 10,000 people living with homelessness in the greater region, and homelessness remains a grave problem in the greater Washington DC area (Table 1).

While not yet considered homeless, many households are believed to be doubled up and/or living in overcrowded situations. Homelessness is often the next step for such households once the family members or friends who have been sheltering them can or will no longer do so. A highly infectious disease presents further challenges to the region, which is already dealing with significant demands due to a public health crisis. The American Rescue Plan may provide opportunities for the regional groups to collaborate in new ways in the years ahead to provide housing and assistance to persons experiencing. But this is not assured.

In May 2021, the Metropolitan Council of Governments released a report, Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington: Results and Analysis from the Annual Point-in-Time Count of Persons Experiencing Homelessness. The report provides information about the number and distribution of people who experienced homelessness in the greater Washington, DC area in 2020. Some of that data are provided in Table 1.

 

Chart 1: Trends in Homelessness by Shelter Type (From: The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress).

 

Table 1. Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington, DC and Surrounding Counties (From Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington: Results and Analysis from the Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Persons Experiencing Homelessness 2021, as reported by Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments: April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, May 4, 2021.)

Note:

The numbers reported here are not necessarily accurate. Estimating the number of people experiencing homelessness is a difficult task. Also, the PIT Count was blurred in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID; some populations of people without homes were not counted. The PIT Count is considered an underestimate by some and not a true enumeration of people experiencing homelessness. Likewise AHAR us considered an undercount by some. For instance, the Count does not consider people who are hospitalized or couch surfing.

 

 

 

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