As homelessness in the Washington D.C. region rises, Loudoun County continues to offer support services for people facing a housing crisis. Homelessness in the Washington D.C. region is up 18% over last year, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ May 2023 Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington: Results and Analysis from the 2023 Point-in-Time Count of Persons Experiencing Homelessness report. The number of people experiencing homelessness in the region increased by 1,300 since 2022. In Loudoun County, the number of persons experiencing homelessness increased by 30% in the last five years, from 169 persons in 2019 to 220 in 2023.
“The rise in homelessness from 2022 highlights the challenges that members of our community continue to face,” said Loudoun County Department of Family Services Director Ina Fernández. “We continue to provide year-round support services to anyone in our community who may be experiencing a housing crisis and wants to accept our assistance.”
Homeless Support Services
Loudoun County offers a variety of programs to assist households in need through the Department of Family Services; Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services; and the Loudoun Continuum of Care, a partnership between local government, nonprofit agencies, the public school system, health care providers and faith-based organizations. Members of the Continuum of Care work together to address the needs of those experiencing housing instability or homelessness in Loudoun County.
Unsheltered individuals and families can receive assistance with their housing search, obtaining identification documents, employment services, health care services and other supportive services. In addition to year-round sheltering, Loudoun County offers a drop-in services program that provides information on community programs and resources as well as lunch and snacks, laundry facilities, showers, and a computer lab.
Anyone who may be experiencing a housing crisis is encouraged to contact the Department of Family Services’ Information & Referral /Coordinated Entry program at 703-777-0420.
Point-in-Time Count
The Point-in-Time Count is a one-day snapshot of persons experiencing homelessness across nine area jurisdictions. The Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report is a comprehensive analysis of the state of homelessness in the region. The Loudoun County Continuum of Care conducts the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Point-in-Time Count of persons in the community experiencing a housing crisis or literal homelessness every January.
The 2023 findings include:
- In Loudoun County, the total number of persons experiencing homelessness increased from 105 in 2022 to 220 in 2023. This represents a 110% increase in Loudoun County since last year.
- Regionally, a total of 8,944 individuals were identified as literally homeless, an 18% increase from 2022.
- While there has been a regional rise in people experiencing literal homelessness since 2022, the percentage change since 2019 has been a decrease of 9%.
For More Information
For more information about Loudoun County’s homeless services, visit loudoun.gov/HomelessServices or contact the Department of Family Services at 703-777-0353.
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