New Point-In-Time Homelessness Count

The Maricopa Association of Governments shared the findings of their 2025 Point-In-Time Homelessness Count. Through this count, they are able to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness during a given time while also identifying how to address their needs.

The count found there was a 3% increase in the number of people that are experiencing homelessness. Officials are saying the loss of federal funding for 1,000 shelter beds contributed to this increase.

Brian Gruters, the Regional Homeless Program Manager at the Maricopa Association of Governments, joined “Arizona Horizon” to share more on the findings of the Point-In-Time Homelessness Count.

A point-in-time count is different from just a homelessness count because homelessness can be described in so many different ways. As Gruters describes it, “Point-in-time just refers to the fact that this is a one-time look over the course of the year. So you are at a point in time, and you count folks. You do a census of people who are in shelter and then sleeping outside or in parks or in cars, anywhere that you wouldn’t consider decent for habitation.”