Homeward Releases 2025 Point In Time Count Data

CONTACT: 

Angie Arthur, Homeward

aarthur@homewardiowa.org

515-302-6017

homewardiowa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HOMEWARD ANNOUNCES ANNUAL COUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN POLK COUNTY

The January Point-in-Time Count revealed 779 individuals in shelters, transitional housing, safe havens, and living outdoors, an 9% increase from 2024.

DES MOINES, IA-  Homeward released the results of the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a survey of individuals experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness in Polk County on a single night. The 2025 count identified 779 people experiencing homelessness on January 29th. 

“The Count functions as a snapshot of homelessness in our community,” said Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward, Polk County’s homeless services planning entity. “This data is an important tool to assess how our homeless response system is performing and to identify the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

Over the course of 24 hours, homeless outreach staff and volunteers conducted brief, conversational surveys with unsheltered residents in greater Des Moines (those living in a place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, camps, or on the street). Staff offered housing assessment, support services, a bag with supplies, gift cards and snacks to all individuals interviewed. The utilization rate for all project types for which data was collected in Polk County, showed that 94% of beds were being utilized on the night of January 29th.

“We’re very thankful to all the homeless service providers who partnered to support the Point-in-Time Count,” Arthur said. “It’s a good representation of how this community comes together to support our residents experiencing homelessness, improve systems, and increase resources.” 

The 2025 PIT data was verified, de-duplicated, and analyzed by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA), Homeward’s partner in maintaining data on homelessness programs in Polk County. ICA also helped document demographic and subpopulation data for residents experiencing homelessness.

Some highlights from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count include:

·     This year’s total PIT number of individuals experiencing homelessness was 779, which is up 9% from 2024 (715). The number of unsheltered individuals identified in January 2025 was 206, which is also an increase from 2024 (147) and a record high.

·     Roughly 78% of unsheltered individuals reported their last permanent address as Polk County, 18% previously lived in another Iowa county, and 4% of individuals came from out of state.

·     Youth homelessness had a slight increase to 46 total youth individuals experiencing homelessness from last year’s total of 41 (2024).

·     Veteran homelessness decreased from last year’s total of 54 (2024) to this year’s total of 40 veterans experiencing homelessness due to coordinated efforts and additional resources to best serve those populations.

·     There was an increase in both those self-reporting having a substance use disorder and serious mental illness. Those self-reporting having a serious mental illness increased from 174 (2024) to 199 (2025), and those self-reporting having a substance use disorder increased from 101 (2024) to 132 in 2025.

·     As is often the case across the nation, Black residents are over-represented in the homelessness population. 24% of the 2025 PIT population identified as Black/African American compared to 8.9% of Polk County residents who are Black/African American.

Results from the January 2025 Count will help Greater Des Moines conduct homeless outreach throughout the year and illuminate demographic, programmatic, and infrastructure gaps.

“As housing vacancy rates hover around 5.5%, homeless rates in central Iowa will continue to rise. This trend is not unique to Iowa but is being experienced nationally in population hubs where the availability of affordable housing is not keeping up with population increases,” Arthur said. 

Data is also reported to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which requires Point-In-Time numbers to distribute federal homelessness funding. Homeward coordinates the Polk County federal funding each year, distributing $7 million to homeless service partners providing permanent housing, outreach, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. 

About Homeward 

Homeward serves as Polk County’s homelessness planning organization, forging strategic partnerships toward ending homelessness. By distributing funding, resources, and data, Homeward seeks to create an efficient, effective homeless response system that meets all residents’ strengths and needs. We lead community-wide homelessness planning efforts to ensure that one day, everyone in Polk County will have a safe place to call home. To be part of the solution, visit https://www.homewardiowa.org/take-action

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