2026 Point-in-Time Count Data Report Released for Community Review

The Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (TPCH) has released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.  This is a  snapshot of homelessness in our region. Conducted each January, the PIT Count helps us understand how many of our neighbors are experiencing homelessness and the capacity required of the homeless response system to meet community need. This year’s effort required nearly 400 dedicated community volunteers helping count people across the region.

On the night of January 27, 2026 count, 2,130 people were identified as experiencing homelessness across Pima County, both sheltered and unsheltered. This reflects roughly a 4% decrease from 2025’s total. This level of year-to-year variation is expected in PIT Count data, as it is an estimate rather than a complete census of people experiencing homelessness. Future data will help determine whether this decrease represents a sustained trend.

Housing Inventory Changes

What’s particularly noteworthy is that, for the first time since 2022, there was a decrease in those experiencing sheltered homelessness.  The 2026 Housing Inventory Count (HIC), conducted alongside the PIT, indicates that Pima County lost nearly 200 shelter beds between 2025 and 2026.  This reduction is largely due to decreased funding from the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), which previously supported 117 emergency shelter beds through hotel vouchers. Additional beds were temporarily unavailable due to shelter renovations but are expected to return to service later this year.  

The 2026 HIC identified 881 shelter beds, while the PIT counted 861 people staying in shelter, which indicates extremely high utilization and limited excess capacity within the system.

Signs of Progress

While the total number of people experiencing homelessness remains high, several encouraging trends suggest that local strategies are making an impact:

• Since 2022, overall PIT numbers have remained relatively flat, holding steady even as many communities continue to experience increases.
• The decrease in sheltered homelessness in 2026 did not result in a corresponding increase in unsheltered homelessness.
• Youth homelessness among 18–24-year-olds continues to decline.
• In 2026, decreases were observed among individuals reporting serious mental illness, substance use disorder, adults living with HIV/AIDS, and adult survivors of domestic violence. Additional data is needed to determine whether these changes represent sustained trends; however, the nearly 53% decrease among adults living with HIV/AIDS is a particularly positive signal.

Persistent Challenges

Despite this progress, the 2026 PIT Count also highlights critical areas of concern:

• Racial disparities persist, with minority populations disproportionately impacted by homelessness in Pima County. TPCH is conducting additional analysis to better understand disparities from coordinated entry through housing placement; findings are expected later in 2026.
• Far too many people remain unsheltered, facing daily risks related to extreme weather, violence, and instability. While TPCH continues to advocate for new and innovative housing models, significant progress will require additional investment in supportive housing and homelessness prevention.

Moving Forward Together

The PIT Count is a call to action.  It's an opportunity for our community to come together, recognize the scale of need, and commit to working together for solutions. Ending homelessness will require sustained effort and system transformation to better support all Tucsonans.

We must continue to:

• Prevent homelessness by investing in deeply affordable housing

• Address root causes, including behavioral health needs, economic instability, and systemic inequities

• Center the voices of people with lived experience in all aspects of planning and response

For media inquiries, please contact Neto Portillo at ernesto.portillo@tucsonaz.gov.