Point In Time Count: Homelessness Drops 27 Percent In Bucks

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Homelessness in Bucks County decreased by 27 percent over last year according to results from a 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count conducted by the county.

This year's count, which took place on January 24, found 313 people sleeping in emergency shelters, residing in transitional housing or living outdoors.

The number of children experiencing homelessness this year also dropped by 38 percent over last year, according to the count, and for the seventh year in a row, no children were found sleeping outside.

The federally-mandated count is conducted each year by the county during the last week of January. It is coordinated by staff and volunteers with the Bucks County Housing Link.

Led by the Housing Link Street Outreach teams, the staff and volunteers canvased throughout the county to survey residents who are experiencing homelessness, completing more than 120 surveys. The Bucks County Department of Housing and Community Development compiled and analyzed the data, which it reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to the PIT, 51 percent of those surveyed were male, 48 percent were female and one percent identified as another gender. Children under the age of 18 accounted for 76, or 24 percent, of those experiencing homelessness on the night of the count, according to the count.

While overall numbers were down, the share of people experiencing homelessness who were unsheltered on the night of the PIT count increased by 18 percent, with 67 people unsheltered and another 38 sleeping in Code Blue (seasonal) shelters.

The number of people experiencing homelessness sleeping in hotels dropped from last year’s 122 to 44.

The share of people from chronically homeless households, or those experiencing long-term or repeated homelessness, increased from 38 people last year to 42 in 2023.

The county continues to work to support those experiencing homelessness in our communities, coordinating resources with partners and seeking grant funding for programs and services.

The Bucks County Housing Link recently was awarded $240,010 in additional grant funds through the annual HUD Continuum of Care Competition to quickly re-house individuals and families experiencing homelessness and provide support while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness. These grant funds are renewable each year through the competition and have increased overall HUD Continuum of Care funding for Bucks County Housing Link projects by 15 percent compared to last year’s award.

To see additional breakdowns of the 2023 PIT data, click here.

For information about available help and resources for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness in Bucks County, visit buckshousinglink.org.