Point-in-Time Count of Residents Experiencing Homelessness

The annual Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count), conducted on January 24, 2024, provides a one-night snapshot of the number of persons experiencing homelessness as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
Page updated on June 10, 2024 at 3:59 PM
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May 29, 2024- The annual Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count), conducted on January 24, 2024, provides a one-night snapshot of the number of persons experiencing homelessness as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).  

The City of Alexandria’s Continuum of Care (CoC) led teams of homeless service providers and volunteers who manually counted and surveyed unsheltered persons (i.e., who slept outdoors or in places not meant for habitation).  

The PIT Count teams identified 187 people experiencing homelessness in the City of Alexandria, a 23% increase from 2023. In addition to unsheltered residents, the counting process includes data from the Homeless Management Information System about individuals and families housed in shelters and transitional housing.  This number does not include those who are couch-surfing or temporarily staying with friends/family. The count identified the following groups of people: 

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Volunteers canvas the City of Alexandria at dawn, looking for residents experiencing homelessness to connect them with resources and to complete the annual Point-In-Time Count.  

  • 74 single men, a 12% increase from 2023 

  • 29 single women, a 28% increase from 2023 

  • 26 households with children, a total of 84 members, a 17% increase in children from 2023 

There was an 86% increase in the number of households that reported homelessness due to fleeing domestic violence, a number that coincides with increased calls to Alexandria’s Domestic Violence hotline and use of the Domestic Violence Safe House. Also identified were significant increases in the number of persons with a chronic health condition as well as those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).  

The CoC sorted the data by race, finding that 73% of those experiencing homelessness identified as Black, African American or African. This is consistent with previous years (2023 – 71%, 2022 – 73%). 

To address racial inequity, the CoC’s Racial Equity Action Committee (REAC) was established to implement initiatives including CoC Board Equity training and a formal policy to compensate persons with lived experience of homelessness.   

While the numbers of people who are homeless increased from 2021 to 2024, the annual PIT Count is slightly below pre-pandemic counts. Unfortunately, that decrease can be attributed to changes in classifications, otherwise the PIT Count result would be at or above pre-pandemic levels. Lacking the resources and policies established during the pandemic--which allowed the CoC system to succeed-- the impact of CoC services has been limited to largely reactive measures.   

The CoC has identified solutions for shortfalls at all points on the housing continuum, from prevention to shelter to housing. Specifically, the work of the Eviction Prevention Task Force and Rapid Rehousing programs have directly resolved housing crises for some Alexandrians. Still, neither are without unique challenges including affordable units, evictions, the need for rental assistance consistently exceeding resources, and eligibility guidelines that prioritize those in crisis as opposed to preventing crises. 

During this past year, the CoC has employed creative strategies to address the rising need for housing crisis support, such as: 

  • Collaboration between the CoC, DCHS’s Behavioral Health Services and community partners such as the Alexandria Health Department and Neighborhood Health to support residents in a holistic way. 

  • Obtaining a City allocation of an additional $270,000 in rental assistance to support residents living with low-incomes. 

  • Earning a Homeless Reduction grant award of $600,000 in Rapid Rehousing funds for Carpenter’s Shelter to move residents from homelessness into stable housing. 

  • Utilizing low-income housing tax credit programs to develop affordable housing. 

Moving forward, the CoC will continue to advocate for data-informed best practices, including increasing resources for subsidized housing for residents living with low incomes.   

Please visit alexandriava.gov/dchs/housing-and-homeless-services-hub for information about housing crisis services and housing resources available from the Department of Community and Human Services and the Office on Housing.

 

Community Meeting- The Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness is holding a hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting meeting to discuss Alexandria's Healthy Homes Project, June 24 from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street). View flyer

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94249600295?pwd=UzUxUllnQ3pTU0lqMyt1R0dkRlAzdz09 
Meeting ID: 942 4960 0295
Passcode: 846156