The 2026 “Point-in-Time” Count of people experiencing homelessness in our community will take place on the night of January 21 and during the day of January 22. The Point-in-Time Count is facilitated by the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board in cooperation with homeless assistance programs, shelters, and emergency services. The LVRHAB is a consortium of representatives from City and County governments, social service agencies, veterans support groups, faith-based and other community organizations, homeless advocates, people who have or are experiencing homelessness, representatives from legislators’ offices, and other interested parties with a commitment to ending homelessness and housing insecurity in the Lehigh Valley.

Trained volunteers will conduct the Count, which is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The data collected during this single point-in-time is crucial in helping to determine the need for services and to create strategies to end homelessness in our community.

The 2025 PIT Count in the Lehigh Valley identified 539 households made up of 764 people experiencing homelessness; this indicates a 10.8% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness since the 2024 Count and a 53.1% increase since before the global pandemic (2020); there has been a staggering 120% increase in unsheltered homelessness in the Lehigh Valley since prior to the pandemic.

The Lehigh Valley is experiencing an acute affordable housing crisis spurred by rapidly escalating housing costs, low housing inventory, and the expiration of pandemic-era financial supports (including rental assistance and SNAP benefits). These factors contribute to the increasingly precarious housing situation, which is exacerbated for marginalized low-income households.

The Point-in-Time Count will take place in rural, suburban, and urban areas of Lehigh and Northampton counties. Interested reporters are invited to participate in the preparation for the Count and to speak to volunteers, but will not be permitted to accompany volunteers during the actual Count to protect the privacy of the people being interviewed.

Information provided to TVL by:
Amiee Goldy