WASHINGTON, DC – This evening, area governments and homeless service providers will begin conducting the annual enumeration or count of the metropolitan Washington region’s homeless population at area shelters. Some of the street and unsheltered count will take place on Thursday due to forecasted inclement weather. 

According to last year’s count, the homeless population in the region remained essentially unchanged from 2011 to 2012. The number dropped from 11,879 in 2011 to 11,830 in 2012.

The enumeration is part of an ongoing effort to monitor and report on the number of people found on the streets, in emergency shelters, in transitional and permanent supportive housing, or otherwise homeless and in need of a safe shelter. 

The jurisdictions that participate in the annual count include the District of Columbia; Frederick County; Montgomery County; Prince George's County (including the City of Bowie); Alexandria; Arlington County; Fairfax County (including Falls Church and the City of Fairfax); Loudoun County; and Prince William County (including the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park).

Results of the enumeration will be released by the Council of Governments this spring. To view and download past reports, click here.