Montgomery County’s homeless population increased by 356 people, a 32% rise from 2024, according to the 2025 Point-in-Time survey. Officials attributed the spike to rising rents, the end of federal rental assistance, and a lack of affordable housing.
Per the news release: “The number of adults and children experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County increased by 356 individuals, an overall increase of 32% from 2024, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) survey report released May 14. The PIT survey is part of an annual regional analysis and report that started in 2001. According to the 2025 report, four jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington area included in the survey recorded an increase in the number of persons experiencing homelessness and four reported decreases when compared with the 2024 count.
Numerous factors contribute to the increase, including the lack of affordable housing in Montgomery County, continually increasing rents, inflation and the end of the COVID-era Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds, all leading to increased evictions. The factors contributing to the increase in homelessness have had a particularly adverse impact on families since the pandemic. Overall, the number of homeless people counted in family households increased from 396 in 2024 to 712 in 2025, an 80% increase. The number of households counted increased to 204 from 103 in the previous year, a 98% increase. The average household size was a family of four, the same as last year…