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Hays County homeless coalition presents January point-in-time count and McKinney–Vento school data; coalition urges a coordinated county emergency plan
Summary
The Hays County Homeless Coalition presented January 2025 point-in-time count results and McKinney–Vento school homelessness data, showing concentrated counts in San Marcos and urging coordinated emergency planning and better data sharing to address evictions and precarious housing.
At a May 20 session, the Hays County Homeless Coalition presented results from the January 2025 point-in-time (PIT) count and related McKinney–Vento school homelessness data, urging county leaders to create a coordinated emergency plan and improve data sharing among municipalities.
The count and what it shows: Coalition volunteers counted approximately 187 people countywide (sheltered and unsheltered) on the night designated by HUD for the PIT count. The coalition reported the largest concentration in San Marcos: countywide, San Marcos had 179 people identified during the count. The presenters noted that the counting night — Jan. 23 — was unusually cold, which likely reduced contacts and that some people sheltered in motels or with friends and therefore were not captured by the PIT methodology.
School data: The coalition also presented McKinney–Vento numbers collected at the start of the school year, which capture children who are doubled-up, in motels, or otherwise housing-insecure. Those data showed 160 students in San Marcos Consolidated ISD identified as McKinney–Vento eligible in the latest report, and many children in doubled-up conditions across the county.
Why it matters: The PIT is a HUD-driven snapshot but does not capture everyone who experiences homelessness over a 12-month period; McKinney–Vento counts show an additional population of children and families who are housing insecure. Coalition speakers said the combined information underscores the need for county and city emergency plans and better inter-agency coordination to direct people to shelter in extreme heat or cold and during flood events.
Recommendations and concerns from presenters: Coalition speakers called for (1) clearer, countywide emergency shelter plans and communications so residents and frontline service providers know where to send people during weather extremes; (2) better access to eviction records and early-warning data to identify people at risk of homelessness; (3) expanded outreach to municipalities and faith-based organizations to open warming/cooling centers and coordinate responses; and (4) sustained funding and partnerships to expand shelter and diversion programs.
County reaction: Commissioners acknowledged the scale of the problem and discussed how differences across municipalities (for example, San Marcos’ larger homeless services footprint) influence PIT counts and service delivery. Commissioners asked staff and coalition leaders to continue roundtable discussions and to loop in municipal officials. County emergency management staff said they already maintain lists of potential warming/cooling sites and are willing to share the plans with the coalition for improved communication.
No vote was taken. The presentation was informational; coalition leaders asked the court to support building a coordinated countywide emergency response and to explore vacancy data, eviction records and other data sources to better target prevention programs.
