PHOENIX — Volunteers will try again on Jan. 23 to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County.

Annual points in time The study found that the number of people without permanent residence in the Valley has steadily increased in recent years.

The 2023 census found 9,642 people experiencing some level of homelessness, an increase of about 72% from the number recorded in 2017, according to data collected by the Maricopa Association of Governments.

About half of the people recorded in the 2023 count were considered “evacuated,” meaning they were living in temporary housing or emergency shelters. The other half were found on the streets or in areas not intended for human habitation.

If you are interested in volunteering for a PIT count in your community, please contact the coordinator. here.

The count is intended to provide an overnight snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness across the country. This data is used to determine funding amounts for local agencies.

The most recent quarterly report on homelessness in Maricopa County shows that the number of households and individuals who are actively homeless is increasing. It will plummet in September 2023.

One notable event that has occurred since the 2023 PIT count is the removal of homeless encampments in downtown Phoenix. Commonly known as “The Zone,” local residents and businesses filed a lawsuit that forced the city to remove tents and structures from the area.

At one time, up to 1,000 people lived around The Zone.

PIT counting was not conducted in 2021 due to the pandemic. However, a subsequent count conducted in 2022 found that the number of unsheltered people in the valley had increased by about 36%.

The results for 2024 are expected to be announced by April.