City-specific summer counts help to build seasonal understanding of unsheltered homelessness.

On July 25, 2024, the City of Boulder completed its second summer Point in Time Count of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the city. Findings from the count are available on the Point in Time Count dashboard on the city’s website.

Point in Time Counts help identify how many people are experiencing homelessness in a community at a specific moment in time. Each January, communities across the country conduct a Point in Time Count. Data from this count helps show how homelessness in an area is changing over time. Communities that participate in this nationwide effort receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help support local homelessness initiatives. This data is collected at a countywide level and is available on the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) website.

In addition to the annual countywide January count, the city began conducting a city-specific July count in 2023 to better understand seasonal trends in how people experience homelessness. The July count focuses on unsheltered homelessness, as the city traditionally experiences an increase in this type of homelessness in the summer. Information collected in the count will help the city identify how the unsheltered population and individuals’ needs differ from summer to winter and will serve as a baseline data point for future counts.

City staff conducted the July count using several methods, including observation and asking the same questions as the January count. Key findings include:

  • 122 individuals were observed experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Of this total, 79 individuals participated in a survey.
  • 36% of people surveyed first experienced homelessness in Boulder.
  • 68% of people surveyed reported experiencing chronic homelessness (one year or longer).
  • 57% of people surveyed reported living with a disabling condition.

“Over the last two years, we have seen a reduction in the number of individuals who are unsheltered and living outside,” said Kurt Firnhaber, director of Housing and Human Services. “While we know that the number of individuals living unsheltered in our city remains a significant concern, we want to celebrate the success we’ve seen in recent years. We’re grateful for the hard work of our community partners who provide life changing services and supportive programs to help exit people out of homelessness and keep them housed.”

Because the count is a snapshot of homelessness on a single night, with variables such as participation, weather, methodology and other factors, results from the count do not accurately reflect the actual number of people living unhoused.

More information about homelessness in Boulder is available on the city’s website. If you have questions about the July 2024 PIT Count or the dashboard, please reach out to Lynette Badasarian at badasarianl@bouldercolorado.gov.

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