News Flash

County News & Press Releases

Posted on: April 4, 2023

PIT Count Finds 27 Percent Drop in Homelessness

Bucks County Housing Link

Preliminary results from the 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count showed a 27 percent decrease in homelessness from last year.  

This year’s count on Jan. 24 found 313 people sleeping in emergency shelters, residing in transitional housing or living outdoors. The number of children experiencing homelessness this year dropped by 38 percent and, for the seventh year in a row, no children were found sleeping outside. 

The federally mandated PIT count is conducted each year during the last week of January. The count is coordinated by Bucks County Housing Link staff who are assisted by volunteers.  

Led by the Housing Link Street Outreach teams, 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. 

Of all those surveyed, 51 percent were male, 48 percent were female and 1 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. 

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 rehouse 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

Media Contact: James O’Malley, 215-348-6414, [email protected]

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in County News & Press Releases

Heat Warning Graphic

Bucks County Issues Excessive Heat Warning

Posted on: September 5, 2023

BCCF Inmate Death Under Investigation

Posted on: January 17, 2023
Vaccine vials in a basket next to a hazardous waste container.

Weekly COVID Update March 11

Posted on: March 11, 2022
Stickers

Weekly COVID Update March 4

Posted on: March 4, 2022
A man and a syringe

Weekly COVID Update Feb. 18

Posted on: February 18, 2022
Vaccine vials in a basket next to a hazardous waste container.

Weekly COVID Update Feb. 11

Posted on: February 11, 2022
bernard - ep1 (1)

Bucks County Conversations: Episode 1

Posted on: February 9, 2022
A basket of empty syringes at the county-run Warwick vaccine clinic

Weekly COVID Update Feb. 4

Posted on: February 4, 2022
A basket of empty syringes at the county-run Warwick vaccine clinic

Weekly COVID Update Jan. 21

Posted on: January 21, 2022
A basket full of COVID-19 vaccine vials.

Weekly COVID Update Jan. 14

Posted on: January 14, 2022
A basket of empty syringes at the county-run Warwick vaccine clinic

Weekly COVID Update Jan. 7

Posted on: January 7, 2022
COVID vaccines in containers

Weekly COVID Update Dec. 30

Posted on: December 30, 2021
COVID vaccines in containers

Weekly COVID Update Dec. 23

Posted on: December 23, 2021
A woman pulling a vaccine dose.

Weekly COVID Update Dec. 17

Posted on: December 17, 2021
COVID vaccines in containers

Weekly COVID Update Dec. 10

Posted on: December 10, 2021
COVID vaccines in containers

Weekly COVID Update Dec. 3

Posted on: December 3, 2021
COVID vaccines in containers

Weekly COVID Update Nov. 29

Posted on: November 29, 2021
A COVID vaccine vial and needle.

Weekly COVID Update Nov. 19

Posted on: November 19, 2021
Vaccine vials in a basket next to a hazardous waste container.

Weekly COVID Update Nov. 12

Posted on: November 12, 2021
COVID vaccines in containers

COVID Weekly Update Nov. 5

Posted on: November 5, 2021
A woman pulling a vaccine dose.

COVID Weekly Update: Week of Oct. 11

Posted on: October 18, 2021
A COVID vaccine vial and needle.

COVID Weekly Update: Week of Oct. 4

Posted on: October 12, 2021