New Report Reveals Spike In Loudoun County Homelessness, Especially Among Young Adults

ASHBURN, VA – Loudoun County saw a notable increase in homelessness this year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The county saw the second largest increase of the 2026 regional point-in-time count, which enumerates the number of people experiencing homelessness across 8 jurisdictions: the city of Alexandria; Arlington County; Washington, DC; Loudoun County; Prince William County; Prince George’s County; Montgomery County; and Fairfax County.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Loudoun County on February 4, the night of the count, was 315, a 25 percent increase compared to last year’s figure of 252. That was the second highest increase of all 8 jurisdictions, topped only by Prince George’s County, in which homelessness captured by the count rose by 29 percent. Three jurisdictions saw decreases.

Since 2019, homelessness in the county has increased by 86 percent, according to the report. The number of families experiencing homelessness has increased at a higher rate, jumping by more than 25 people between 2025 and 2026 and by 200 percent since 2022.

The county also saw a notable jump in the number of single, transition age youth, defined as people age 18 to 25. That figure was 15 in 2025 and 43 in 2026. The number has risen more than 10-fold since 2022.

Loudoun County also has a relatively high proportion of unsheltered homeless people at 10 percent of the count. While the region overall saw a decrease in unsheltered adults, Loudoun saw an increase of 26 people, or nearly 30 percent more year on year. Since 2022, the county has seen a more than 350 percent increase in unsheltered homelessness, the largest increase in the region.

The number of chronically homeless in Loudoun also more than doubled year on year.

The number of available shelter beds in the county is far less than the actual need. According to the report, through a partnership with Shelter House and other hotel projects, Loudoun County has a year-round capacity of 109 beds with an additional 61 beds available between November and March. Two additional shelters in the county have another 39 beds. Even with the maximum number of beds available, capacity falls short by dozens of beds if the point-in-time count is representative of need.

The county attempts to prioritize the most urgent or vulnerable cases through its Crisis Prioritization List (CPL). The average wait time on that list for a bed in 2025 was 57 days.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments concludes that the increase in the number of families and minor children experiencing homelessness in 2026 may reflect rising housing costs, eviction pressures, and broader economic challenges affecting household stability. Some 38 percent of unsheltered individuals in the county reported having some income, though not enough to afford housing in the county.

Read results from Fairfax County here and for Alexandria city here.