Dayton, Ohio – Montgomery County is reporting encouraging progress in its effort to reduce homelessness, with newly released data showing the number of people experiencing homelessness declined for the third consecutive year.
County officials announced the results of the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on Wednesday, revealing that 571 people were experiencing homelessness on the day of the count, which was conducted on Feb. 6. The figure represents a nearly 13% decrease compared to the 2025 count and continues a downward trend that local leaders say reflects years of coordinated work among government agencies, housing providers, outreach teams, and community organizations.
The latest report also showed that the number of households experiencing homelessness during 2025 fell by 17%, providing another sign that local efforts are making a measurable impact.
Third Straight Year Of Declining Homelessness
The Point-in-Time Count is a nationwide effort required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Communities across the country conduct the count each year to measure both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness.
Normally, the count takes place during the last 10 days of January. However, Montgomery County postponed this year’s count until Feb. 6 due to extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall that affected Ohio and several other states.
The count found that 488 individuals were staying in shelters while 83 people were living in unsheltered situations.
Compared to 2025, the number of sheltered individuals declined by 40, while the number of unsheltered individuals dropped by 28.
County leaders welcomed the results but stressed that the work is not finished.
“While we are encouraged to see continued declines in homelessness locally, we know there is still important work ahead,” said Commission President Carolyn Rice. “These numbers represent real people and families in our community, and our focus remains on expanding access to safe, stable housing and the supportive services people need to achieve long-term stability. The progress we are seeing reflects the collaboration between local governments, service providers, outreach teams and community partners working together to address homelessness in Montgomery County.”
The county’s recent trend stands out when compared to broader national concerns about homelessness, which has increased in many areas of the country.
Long-Term Trends Show Improvement
Data from the past five years illustrates how homelessness levels have changed throughout Montgomery County.
The total number of people counted was 570 in 2022 before climbing sharply to 771 in 2023. The figure then fell to 687 in 2024, dropped again to 639 in 2025, and now stands at 571 in 2026.
Sheltered homelessness has also steadily declined over the last three years. After reaching 664 individuals in 2023, the number fell to 595 in 2024, 528 in 2025, and 488 this year.
Unsheltered homelessness followed a similar pattern. After increasing to 111 individuals in 2025, the total dropped to 83 in 2026.
Advocates cautioned that weather conditions likely influenced some of this year’s results. The severe cold prompted many people who normally sleep outdoors to seek temporary shelter. Community organizations also provided emergency accommodations outside of traditional shelter systems during the extreme weather period.
How The Count Was Conducted
To identify unsheltered individuals, volunteers traveled throughout the county searching locations where people may sleep outdoors. Teams visited abandoned buildings, vacant properties, vehicles, wooded areas, parks, underpasses, and other known locations.
Volunteers also connected with individuals at meal sites and service centers who reported staying in unsheltered situations.
The sheltered count included people staying at several emergency housing facilities, including Daybreak, Gettysburg Shelter for Men, Holt Street for veterans, St. Vincent de Paul Shelter for Women & Families, and the YWCA Dayton Domestic Violence Shelter.
Thousands Still Need Assistance
Although the latest numbers show improvement, homelessness continues to affect thousands of residents each year.
County data showed that 3,305 households experienced homelessness during 2025.
The previous year, 3,990 households either sought emergency shelter or received assistance through street outreach programs.
Officials also highlighted the role of housing programs designed to help individuals and families move toward long-term stability. During 2025, Montgomery County and its partners assisted 1,601 households through permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing programs.
These services help connect residents with housing resources, support programs, and other assistance intended to prevent future homelessness.
County leaders say they remain committed to reducing homelessness further through coordinated planning, partnerships, and data-driven strategies.
While the latest numbers point to meaningful progress, officials emphasized that the ultimate goal remains unchanged: ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief, and nonrecurring while expanding access to safe and stable housing opportunities for every resident in Montgomery County.
