Homeless population trending upwards
The number of homeless people in Fairfax County increased by 3 percent from 1,222 in 2025 to 1,365 in 2026, according to the point-in-time survey conducted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on Feb. 4.
The annual PIT report, released last week, provides a one-night “snapshot” of the region’s residents experiencing homelessness within eight jurisdictions in the DMV.
The snapshot for Fairfax County’s homeless population matches the overall 3 percent increase for the region as a whole.
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In other findings:
- Homelessness in Fairfax County increased 32 percent between 2019 and 2026. The report attributes the increase to rising housing costs, which make it difficult for extremely low-income households to afford a place to live.
- The survey found 68 homeless “transition-age youths” (ages 18-24) in Fairfax County, including 50 not connected to families. That’s a 22 percent increase since 2022.
- The number of single adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Fairfax County rose 11 percent from 273 in 2022 to 302 in 2026.
- The total number of people experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County has trended upwards since 2017, when the total count was 964.
- The increase in 2026 is primarily driven by a higher number of adult-only households in emergency shelters.
- Fairfax County Public Schools identified a total of 1,342 students as homeless over the school year as of April 7, 2026, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education’s broader definition of “homeless.”