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Regional PIT: 9,659 counted in 2025; COG pushes data-sharing and "Built for Zero" alignment
Summary
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments reported 9,659 people counted regionally in the 2025 point-in-time count and outlined steps to move from annual snapshots to quality-by-name, real-time data and case conferencing across jurisdictions to better coordinate services.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments told Montgomery Countys Health and Human Services Committee that the regions 2025 point-in-time (PIT) count totaled 9,659 people and that the Council is accelerating regional data-sharing and the "Built for Zero" client-centered approach.
Snapshot and context: "It is only a point in time," Sam Kenny, COG regional homeless systems coordinator, said. He stressed the PIT provides an important but incomplete snapshot and that divergent count dates across the region this year (Jan. 22 and Jan. 29) complicate direct comparisons. Kenny reported a modest regional net decrease of about 1% from 2024 but said local trends vary widely across continuums of care.
Data alignment and case conferencing: Hillary Chapman, COG Housing Program Manager, described COGs role as a backbone organization in a new partnership with Community Solutions to scale the "Built for Zero" methodology, provide technical assistance and ensure jurisdictions achieve "quality-by-name" data. Chapman warned that proposed federal budget cuts to housing programs could threaten local efforts.
Tri-jurisdiction data warehouse: County and regional staff described an existing data warehouse that now holds multiple years of continuum-of-care data for the District of Columbia, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County and said they have begun case conferencing (initially on veterans) to coordinate cross-jurisdictional placements and services. Chief Hong said the triad dataset contains "tens of thousands of people" and that the jurisdictions are working with a consultant to make reports actionable.
Why it matters: Council members pushed for clearer regional comparisons of beds, sheltering policies and budget allocations so that PIT numbers can be understood in context rather than as a ranking. Officials said improved, shared data and sustained cross-jurisdictional advocacy could reduce duplication, help route people to the right resources, and target voucher or supportive-housing investments.
Next steps: COG will review six-month action plans and technical milestones for built-for-zero implementation; county staff and COG leaders described ongoing work to operationalize the tri-jurisdictional warehouse and expand the use of case conferencing beyond veterans.
Speakers quoted: Sam Kenny, Hillary Chapman, Chief Hong.
Ending: COG and county staff said they would continue to refine data-sharing, pursue quality-by-name metrics and return with progress updates; council members encouraged annualized briefings to track implementation and resource alignment.
