3,238

WHERE DO WE STAND?

The January 2025 Point-in-Time Count identified 3,238 people who were either staying in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or who were living on the streets, in cars, or other areas not intended for human habitation. This annual count measures people who are experiencing homelessness on a specific day.  The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) also reports that the percentage of those who were unsheltered for the first time increased to 44% in 2025, and that the percentage of those who were unsheltered that said they first experienced homelessness in Austin was 68%.

The Point-in-Time Count occurs nation-wide, as directed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hundreds of local volunteers comb the community to identify people who are experiencing homelessness on that particular day.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 and 2022 PIT Counts were not carried out.

A CLOSER LOOK

People who are Black or African American are significantly overrepresented in the local homeless population. Although, in recent years, persons who identify as Black made up only 8% of the total Travis County population, 31.6% of the homeless population identified as Black in the 2025 PIT count.

HOMELESSNESS BY AGE

In Austin, 25% of people counted in the 2023 PIT count were between 35 and 44 years old, 20% were between 45 and 54 years old, 16% were between 25 and 34 years old, 15% were under 18 years old, 15% were between 55 and 64 years old, 5% were between 65 and above, and 5% were 18 to 24.

HOMELESSNESS BY TYPE

A slight majority (51%) of people who were counted in the 2025 Austin Point-In-Time Count were spending the night in one of the city’s local shelters, while 46% were unsheltered. Of the people experiencing homelessness in Austin, 68% reported being homeless temporarily, while 29% reported being chronically homeless.

WHERE UNSHELTERED WERE FOUND

This map, prepared by the Ending Community Homeless Coalition (ECHO), shows the distribution of the unsheltered homeless population by Austin City Council District during the 2020 Point in Time count. Although people experiencing homelessness without shelter are largely concentrated downtown, in 2020 this population was less centrally concentrated than in 2019.

HOMELESSNESS IN TRAVIS COUNTY

This chart reflects data collected through the Point-In-Time Count (PIT) and was reported in the 2025 Policy Brief.

HOMELESSNESS AMONG STUDENTS IN AUSTIN

The number of students experiencing homelessness in  Austin ISD have fluctuated over the past 5 years. Most recently, during the 2023-2024 school year, 994 students within the district were identified as either experiencing homelessness, doubling up with relatives or others, or living in hotels, camp grounds, cars or other non-permanent housing.  Both Austin ISD and Dell Valle ISD saw increases in the number of homeless students in the most recent school year reported.