Officials say 2024 PIT Count shows ‘encouraging results’ in efforts to combat homelessness
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Following the release of Nashville’s most recent Point-in-Time Count, officials say the data appears to show “encouraging results” in the city’s efforts to combat homelessness.
Every year, volunteers take one night to count the number of unsheltered and sheltered persons experiencing homelessness in Nashville and Davidson County. More than 100 volunteers took part in this year’s count, which was held on Jan. 25.
Point-in-Time count: Homelessness in Nashville up 11% from 2022
On that particular evening, officials said there were 2,094 people experiencing homelessness in the city — a 1.6% decrease from January 2023. Last year, there were 2,129 people counted, which was a nearly 11% increase from 2022.
Many of the people surveyed on Jan. 25 were staying at various emergency shelters in Nashville. However, volunteers also went out overnight and canvassed Davidson County to count those sleeping outdoors and in their vehicles.
In a news release sent out on Wednesday, May 15, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) called the data from the 2024 PIT Count a “testament to the unwavering dedication of the OHS team and community partners.”
“In a high growth city, OHS continues to secure creative housing solutions and innovative resources for our unhoused Nashville neighbors,” said OHS Director April Calvin.
Nashville investing $50M to help combat homelessness crisis
Much of that work has come from a $50 million investment approved by former Mayor John Cooper in October 2022 to help get more people into housing using American Rescue Plan funding
In those ongoing efforts, OHS recently furnished 131 studio homes for people experiencing homelessness, and the city will soon open its first public permanent supportive housing facility for unhoused Nashvillians, The Strobel Center.
“While it’s great to see a slight decrease in the number of unhoused Nashvillians, we know we have more work to do,” Calvin said.
Additional findings from the 2024 PIT Count highlighted disabilities and mental health needs among the city’s unhoused population, with nearly 78% of unsheltered individuals saying they have some type of disability and another 48% suffering from a mental health condition.
A majority of the adults who were surveyed on the night of the 2024 PIT Count were men and 42% were Black.
Nearly 59% of unsheltered people said they have repeatedly been homeless or have been unhoused for at least a year. A different data set shows that chronic homelessness has increased 43% in the city over the past year.
According to Metro Nashville’s Homelessness Dashboard, 1,027 people were chronically homeless in March 2023 and 1,472 as of March 2024. However, a spokesperson for OHS said that rise could be a reflection of “increased data collection” as more people are entered into the Homeless database.
While the PIT Count is an “essential tool for understanding the scope of homelessness,” officials noted that the data does have limitations. The numbers represent only a snapshot of homelessness, rather than the extent of homelessness over an entire year.
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It also does not include families who are doubled up or living in area motels without a voucher due to economic hardship or housing loss.
In the release, officials said OHS has been working with the Nashville Rescue Mission to sync accurate data “that sheds a light on the true extent of homelessness in our city.”
“As a community, I am hopeful, that we will continue to utilize a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing homelessness in Davidson County. It’s crucial to prioritize both funding and supportive services to help individuals and families secure and sustain permanent housing. The housing-first model, coupled with a focus on target universalism, can provide a solid foundation for ensuring everyone has access to safe and stable housing,” said Jaha Martin, Homelessness Planning Council Chairwoman.
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