While homelessness is surging nationwide, the Houston region’s homeless population has held relatively steady — thanks in large part to a housing-first approach credited with cutting the number of unhoused people by more than half since 2011.
According to the 2025 Point-in-Time count released this week, 3,325 people were experiencing homelessness across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. That figure is nearly identical to last year’s total of 3,280. Of those counted, 1,282 were unsheltered and 2,043 were staying in shelters.
The results stand in sharp contrast to record levels of homelessness across the United States.
“This really represents somewhat of a flat line,” said Ben King, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Houston’s medical school who analyzed the data. “This occurs in the context of a massive rise in homelessness across the country.”
Housing-first model shows results
Houston launched its housing-first model in 2011, prioritizing permanent housing placement before addressing other needs such as job training or counseling. Since then, the region has reduced its homeless population by more than half, according to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.
Still, challenges remain. The share of people experiencing chronic homelessness — defined as individuals with disabilities who have been unhoused for more than a year — climbed to 44% this year, compared with 29% in 2024. The number of unsheltered people also rose nearly 16% from last year.
Kelly Young, president and CEO of the Coalition, said the uptick reflects both the loss of federal COVID-19 relief dollars and a reduction in shelter capacity.
“Without sufficient shelter and permanent housing flow, street homelessness grows,” she said.
Pressure on funding
Mayor John Whitmire has pledged to end street homelessness in Houston. In February, his administration launched the Initiative to End Street Homelessness Fund, seeking $70 million from public and private sources. As of May, the fund remained $40 million short.
Whitmire, who has long argued that prior counts underestimated the city’s unhoused population, said Houston is making progress despite headwinds.
“Homelessness is a national problem that we are addressing locally,” he said in a statement. “We are making progress, and the challenges would be worse without the Initiative to End Street Homelessness.”
The initiative comes as affordable housing pressures mount. According to the 2025 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report from Rice University, more than half of renters are considered “cost-burdened,” spending at least 30% of their income on rent. One in four renters spends more than half of their income on housing.
Regional coordination and tensions
The region’s homelessness system relies on coordination among city, county and nonprofit partners. While local leaders agree the housing-first approach works, debates continue over funding strategies, particularly as Houston and Harris County weigh different priorities in closing the gap.
Advocates warn that sustained investment will be critical if the city hopes to reach Whitmire’s ambitious goal.
“Houston has proven that homelessness can be reduced,” King said. “But it requires consistent resources and political will.”
The bottom line
Houston’s fight against homelessness shows progress and stability in a time of national crisis — but the city’s ambitious pledge to end street homelessness hinges on whether leaders can maintain the funding and collaboration needed to sustain the effort.
Homeless Count by County, 2025
(Source: Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County)
- Harris County: 2,990
- Fort Bend County: 175
- Montgomery County: 160
Total: 3,325
Sheltered vs. Unsheltered
- Sheltered: 2,043
- Unsheltered: 1,282
Houston Homelessness Trend
(Source: Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County)
- 2011: About 8,500 people were experiencing homelessness
- 2020: About 3,900
- 2024: 3,280
- 2025: 3,325
