Volunteers took part in Montgomery County’s annual Point-in-Time Count, an initiative aimed at capturing a snapshot of the local homeless population on a given January night, writes Rachel Ravina for North Penn Now.
“I think last night we had a group of volunteers that are committed to our work to really see those who currently are experiencing homelessness,” said county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder.
Around 50 volunteers fanned out across Abington, Ardmore, Cheltenham, Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown, Pennsburg, Pottstown, Souderton, and Willow Grove to complete the annual count mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Homelessness in Montgomery County has risen steadily, growing from 357 people in 2023 to 425 in 2024 and 534 in 2025, while it remains too early to accurately assess what the 2026 count will show.
Volunteers collected key geographic and demographic data from unhoused individuals, documenting factors such as age, disability, and veteran status.
“I think it helps really plan our efforts to ensure that we’re trying to tackle that and prioritize our resources for the most vulnerable,” said Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development Administrator Kayleigh Silver.
Read more about the Point-in-Time Count in North Penn Now.
