Point-in-Time Count results show increase in sheltered population

The 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homelessness Count identified 7,906 individuals experiencing homelessness during a given point in time.

The survey is conducted during the last ten days in January to assess the number of unhoused residents in Southern Nevada.

The Point-in-Time Count, involves volunteers surveying public areas to count sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. This count is a component of a nationwide initiative aimed at understanding the extent of homelessness across the United States.

The Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care (SNHCoC) coordinates the Point-in-Time count and serves as a central hub for collaboration between various organizations and local communities working to address homelessness.

Continuums of Care (CoCs) are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness at least every other year. This year’s Point-in-Time Count was conducted on January 25, 2024, consistent with HUD’s requirement to conduct the count during the last ten days of January.

The 2024 Point-in-Time Count report revealed

The 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homelessness Count revealed an increase in the number of sheltered individuals in Southern Nevada. The number of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered increased from 2,654 in 2023 to 3,704 in 2024.

The recent increase in the sheltered count is likely due in part to the expansion of shelter access for individuals experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness and a change in our counting methodology. Since the opening of non-congregate shelters in Clark County, more people can access safe and stable housing, which can help to break the cycle of homelessness.

Clark County’s strategic expansion of shelter resources have yielded positive results and have improved our ability to count individuals experiencing homelessness, with a 62 percent increase in non-congregate shelter beds and expanded access to emergency shelters. This surge in capacity has led to a significant rise in the number of sheltered individuals, providing a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness.

“This year’s Point-in-Time count shows that our efforts to expand shelter options are having a tangible impact,” said Deputy County Manager Abigail Frierson. “While the number of individuals living unsheltered remains high and we continue to work to secure permanent, stable housing, it is encouraging to see that we are steadily moving residents off the streets and into safer environments.”

The number of unsheltered individuals increased by seven percent, from 3,912 people in 2023 to 4,202 in 2024.

Clark County continues to foster innovative solutions

Clark County continues to make efforts to prevent homelessness in our community and advance affordable housing initiatives. As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness, the County has implemented a range of innovative initiatives that directly address the root causes of homelessness and provide comprehensive support to individuals and families in need. Our initiatives include:

Rapid Rehousing

To aid in reducing homelessness, Clark County is innovatively providing shelter to thousands in partnership with community entities, delivering wraparound services to help ensure those who are most in need of support, have access to these services to help prevent future homelessness. Clark County has 40 Rapid Rehousing (RRH) programs throughout the community, representing 30.77 percent of the projects for the unhoused.

Emergency and Non-congregate Shelters

Clark County has committed to continue to provide services in the form of congregate and non-congregate shelters for the most vulnerable of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. The County has spent $23 million dollars on six non-congregate shelters. These facilities provide short-term temporary housing to support family preservation and assist single-member households with accessing and transitioning to long-term housing, providing stability to those who are or at-risk of experiencing continued homelessness.

Navigation Center

Clark County has implemented a non-congregate emergency housing and navigation center to connect homeless adults without children to housing, income, public benefits, physical, mental, and behavioral health services and more, to help individuals reach a goal of self-sufficiency. This is not mere housing — this model is based on individualized case management intended to address the root causes of homelessness.

Permanent Supportive Housing

On April 5, 2022, Welcome Home, Clark County’s Community Housing Fund (CHF) was created to address the urgent housing need for low-income residents — families, seniors, and those who are employed, but unable to find affordable housing. Since then, Clark County has made a truly historic investment in affordable housing and has approved over $170 million for affordable housing units for low to extremely low-income residents in Southern Nevada. The approved funding has been used to support the construction and rehabilitation of a total of 3,704 units dedicated to supporting low-income families and seniors in the region.