BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A new study just released by Palm Beach County reveals that the latest “count” of unhoused individuals in PBC dropped significantly from 2024. The official announcement provided to BocaNewsNow.com explains through facts and figures:
>>On January 30 and 31, 2025, over 200 staff members and community volunteers participated in the Palm Beach County homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. Representatives from the Homeless and Housing Alliance (HHA), Palm Beach County (PBC) Community Services Department (CSD) and many other organizations surveyed individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the 24-hour period.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and municipal law enforcement entities provided assistance to field outreach teams conducting the surveys by escorting them into wooded areas, parking lots, bus stops, abandoned buildings, parks and stationary places, such as food pantries, soup kitchens and libraries. Individuals and families sleeping in their cars and in local shelters were also included in the count.
The results of the 2025 Point-in-Time Count indicate an overall decrease in homelessness of approximately 28.5%. The county is still researching the count numbers to determine the cause(s) of the decrease this year. During the 24-hour period, surveyors counted 914 unsheltered (living in cars or on the streets) individuals and 606 residents living in shelters and/or transitional housing, bringing the total count to 1,520. The total count for 2024 was 2,126.
The count reflected a 10% overall decrease in veteran homelessness, a 21% decrease in senior homelessness and a 30% decrease in chronic homelessness. The number of homeless individuals counted in 2024 was 2,216.
It is important to note that the new Public Camping Law (HB 1365) may have influenced the count to some degree, as some volunteers reported finding it more challenging to locate unsheltered individuals this year. A more extensive analysis of how this new law may have impacted the count will be conducted once PIT Count numbers from across the state and country are reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Throughout the past year, Palm Beach County and the Homeless and Housing Alliance have made significant progress, including the opening of the new 74-bed Central County Housing Resource Center, the establishment of 17 Cottage Homes for families, multiple landlord recruitment campaigns, support for a medical respite facility, the continuation of a low-barrier housing placement initiative, ongoing eviction prevention efforts and enhanced coordination at the shelters and call center.
“Every year we come together with our shared belief and commitment to effectively serve residents experiencing homelessness and work towards our common goal of ensuring that homelessness in Palm Beach County is rare, brief and nonrecurring,” said Wendy Tippett, director of PBC Community Services Department Human Services and Community Action Division. “We know that our work is not over, which is why we use the PIT Count numbers to make data-driven decisions on how to provide essential services to the areas most in need,” she added.
Special thanks to Palm Beach County Administration, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, all of the municipal agencies, the many local partner organizations and volunteers who assisted in this year’s Point-in-Time Count!<<
