Department of Human Services Releases 2026 Community Counts Results

Published on May 18, 2026

Allegheny County Department of Human Services Releases Results of 2026 Community Counts Homelessness Estimate 

PITTSBURGH – Today, Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) released results from Community Counts, its homelessness estimate conducted this year on the night of February 3, 2026. The count estimated 1,108 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in Allegheny County--930 in shelter and 178 unsheltered. 

This year’s annual count, required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, marked the local debut of a new counting methodology modeled after successful efforts in New York and Paris. For the first time, Allegheny County incorporated random sampling into its effort to estimate unsheltered homelessness and deployed hundreds of volunteers to achieve broader geographic coverage than years prior.  

Highlights include: 

This year’s count established a new baseline for measuring trends in unsheltered homelessness. DHS tracks multiple indicators of unsheltered homelessness throughout the year, including encampment activity and street outreach data, in addition to the annual count. Taken together, with expected seasonal fluctuations, these indicators include signs of progress resulting from our focused efforts to move people into safe and stable places, as well as reminders that this is a persistent and difficult challenge that requires continued effort on behalf of our community. 

“I’m pleased with the progress we’re seeing in moving unhoused neighbors from outside to shelter and from shelter to homes,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. “Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who came out on a cold night this winter to do this important Community Counts. Reliable data can help us make informed decisions about the best way to deploy resources and help our neighbors in need.” 

In recent years, the County has implemented individualized case planning for people sleeping outside, as well as the County Executive’s 500 in 500 initiative, which created new housing options for people in emergency shelter. DHS outlined several initiatives to build on this progress, including opening a triage center at Second Avenue Commons, enhancing street outreach contracts, launching a psychiatric-led street-based treatment team for people with serious mental illness, and expanding supportive housing capacity.  

“Our goal is to steward a system where no one in Allegheny County is ever forced to sleep outside due to lack of shelter capacity,” said Acting DHS Director Alex Jutca. “We will build on our progress by investing in housing and behavioral health interventions that help people stabilize and recover.” 

"Participating in the first-ever Community Counts with our amazing volunteers was an inspiring experience, and a reminder that Allegheny County is the kind of place where people come together to support neighbors in need,” said Allegheny County Councilperson Bethany Hallam. “As Chair of Council’s Housing & Homelessness Committee, I’m proud that Allegheny County is a place where we are making a meaningful impact on homelessness, and that our government and partners remain committed to the hard work we still need to do to tackle this challenge in ways that honor the dignity of every person in our County."  

Allegheny County will continue to refine its data collection efforts and build on the Community Counts model in future years.  Individuals interested in viewing the full report and staying up to date on volunteer opportunities for the 2027 count can visit:  qr.alleghenycounty.us/CommunityCountsResults.

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Media inquiries for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services should be sent to Cydney Cooper at cydney.cooper@alleghenycounty.us 
For contact information, including email addresses and telephone numbers,
visit the Communications webpage.