According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report, the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the region is the lowest it has been in 18 years. The number of persons experiencing homelessness has increased slightly in Loudoun County.
The Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report is a one-day snapshot of persons experiencing homelessness across nine area jurisdictions. The Loudoun County Continuum of Care conducts the annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Point-in-Time Count of persons in the community experiencing a housing crisis or literal homelessness every January. During the count, members of the Continuum of Care along with staff from local nonprofits canvass the county to assist anyone who is unsheltered by providing resources, non-perishable food and other needed items. Local law enforcement personnel and mental health clinicians also assist with outreach efforts across the county.
The Loudoun County Point-in-Time Count covers the entire county and includes outreach to young adults ages 18 to 24, veterans, people over 60, families and others. In 2019, the findings include:
- The total number of persons experiencing homelessness increased from 134 in 2018 to 169 in 2019 in Loudoun County. This represents 0.04% of the total population in the county, the lowest percentage of the nine area jurisdictions.
- This increase is in the number single adults experiencing homelessness. The number of families experiencing homelessness remained unchanged from 2018 (15 families).
“Every year, we -along with our regional partners- spend time in the community collecting data on the number of individuals who are homeless,” said Loudoun County Department of Services Director Glenda Blake. “With each Point-In-Time Count, we learn more about the challenges of homelessness and use this data to strengthen our human service network. This year, the county had more community organizations assisting in the count than in past years, therefore, the numbers are higher but may be more accurate. It truly does take a village to provide services to those most vulnerable in our community experiencing a housing crisis.”
Loudoun County offers a variety of programs to assist households in need through the Department of Family Services and the Loudoun Continuum of Care, a partnership between local government, nonprofit agencies, the public school system, health care providers, faith-based organizations and others that work together to address the needs of those experiencing housing instability or homelessness in Loudoun County.
Anyone who may be experiencing a housing crisis is encouraged to contact the Department of Family Services’ Coordinated Entry System at 703-777-0420.
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