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Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Joins City Leaders, Homeless Outreach Workers For 2026 Point-In-Time Count

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CHICAGO – Tonight, Mayor Brandon Johnson will join the Department of Family and Support Services' (DFSS) Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) team, volunteers, and City leaders to kick off the 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, the City's annual estimate of people experiencing homelessness on a single January night in Chicago.

"To alleviate and end homelessness, we need to know the scope of the challenge. The point-in-time count is a vital part of the City's data-driven approach to understanding and addressing homelessness in Chicago. Behind every number is a neighbor who deserves dignity, safety, and a place to call their own," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "I want to thank all of our intrepid City workers and volunteers for braving the cold tonight and contributing to our work to address homelessness in Chicago."

On the night of the Count, about 550 trained City staff, homeless shelter staff, street outreach teams and volunteers conduct a tally and survey of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in both sheltered sites and unsheltered locations not meant for human habitation (e.g., parks, encampments) in Chicago. Areas for the unsheltered count are selected by the City's data partner for the PIT Count, the University of Illinois at Chicago Vorhees Center, based on latest data from street outreach teams and previous PIT Count data.

"We are incredibly grateful to all of the staff, volunteers and community partners who make this annual count possible," said DFSS Commissioner Angela Green. "Their efforts ensure we can capture accurate data that is vital to our ability to target services that best meet our unhoused residents' needs, allows for the effective allocation of resources, and ultimately supports them on their journey toward housing."

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The Sheltered Count will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to collect information on people residing in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and Safe Haven programs.  The Unsheltered Count will be conducted from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. by around 50 service provider staff and trained volunteers who will count in assigned areas across the city and conduct a survey with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness who are willing to participate.

Volunteers will offer snacks, hats, gloves, socks, hygiene kits and resource cards to any individuals contacted during the count. Volunteers will launch from five geographic hubs across the city to conduct the Unsheltered Count.

"The Point-in-Time Count is critical in securing federal resources to support Chicagoans, particularly those experiencing homelessness," said Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto. "It is the one night each year when the city comes together to connect with our unhoused residents in a coordinated and broad effort across many agencies, organizations and city volunteers. As the City's Chief Homelessness Officer, I am dedicated to ensuring that the insights from this Count directly inform and strengthen our 5-Year Plan to Address Homelessness, driving meaningful and effective change for our most impacted communities."

The Department of Family and Support Services leads the implementation, planning and data reporting of the PIT Count, in collaboration with All Chicago and the Nathalie P. Vorhees Center at the University of Illinois Chicago.

HOP team members, volunteers, and City leadership will meet at the DFSS Command Center at 1615 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622 before they depart for the Unsheltered PIT Count at 10:00 p.m.

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PIT data is used to obtain federal funding for homeless services and to inform service needs. The PIT Count does not capture all Chicagoans experiencing homelessness throughout a given year. Rather, the PIT Count provides the City and its partners with an annual snapshot of the number and demographic characteristics of people experiencing homelessness and raises public awareness about homelessness and its historical trends in Chicago. Connecting with these individuals and understanding their lived experiences helps ensure the City is providing them with the best possible support to meet their unique needs and challenges. Results from previous years can be found here.

The following agencies are participating or partnering in this year's Unsheltered PIT Count:
  • DFSS Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) Team;
  • Featherfist;
  • Haymarket;
  • Renaissance Social Services;
  • The Salvation Army;
  • The Night Ministry;
  • Thresholds;
  • Puerto Rican Cultural Center;
  • ReVive;
  • Street Samaritans;
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • Chicago Department of Aviation;
  • Chicago Transit Authority;
  • Chicago Police Department;
  • Chicago Parks District.

Youth Count

DFSS, in partnership with All Chicago and other City partners like Chicago Public Libraries (CPL), has made important strides to improve participation and scale up this year's Youth Count. The Youth Count is a supplemental part of the PIT Count that focuses on the number of youth (those under 25) experiencing homelessness or in unstable housing situations. The Youth Count will take place from Thursday, January 22nd through Tuesday, January 27th in an effort to understand more about the unique experiences and needs of youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.

Additional Information

Anyone experiencing homelessness in Chicago can call 3-1-1 to request shelter. Anyone at risk of losing their housing can also reach the Homeless Prevention Call Center by calling 3-1-1.

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