Overall homelessness in Denver went down by 12.5% this year, the first year-to-year reduction in nine years, according to an annual count called a Point-In-Time count – a snapshot of homelessness taken on a single night in January. Street homelessness is also at a nine-year low, decreasing by 64% since 2023. The 2026 PIT count shows decreases of about 8% in metro Denver and 12.5% in Denver proper. The PIT count can be skewed by a number of factors, such as participation or weather, while the statewide report relies on data compiled over the entire year.
The announcement of the annual count comes on the heels of the annual statewide report on homelessness released 5/18/2026 by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. That report found homelessness across metro Denver decreased 1.3% in 2025.
Councilman Hinds cautions while the reports show positive progress, obvious problems remain for Denver’s unhoused. These problems aren’t solely about housing the unhoused – crime, drug use and drug sales are all part of larger issues facing our communities, and we need to balance resources for the police with resources treating core causes of crime.
From the Denver’s Perfect 10 Newsletter — Edition 2026-06-a
