Montgomery County officials report 32% rise in homelessness; families doubled in 2025 PIT count

Montgomery Countysaw a sharp increase in people experiencing homelessness in the 2025 point-in-time (PIT) count, Chief Hong of the Department of Health and Human Services told the County CouncilHealth and Human Services Committee on June 26. "Montgomery County saw a significant increase in homelessness, 32% rise from 2024," Chief Hong said, noting the largest rise occurred among families.

Why it matters: County staff said the countys rise was driven by families: the number of people in family units rose roughly 80% and family units increased 98% (from 103 to 204). Chief Hong cited multiple proximate causes, including high rents, wages that have not kept pace with inflation, the end of COVID-era emergency rental assistance, rising utility costs and reductions in safety-net capacity.

What officials presented: Chief Hong summarized county data from the months around the PIT count and explained local housing stabilization limits. The county can provide arrearage assistance up to $3,000 per household; a sample of recent households seeking help showed about 30% had arrears of $3,000$6,000, 34% had $6,000$9,000 and 18% had $9,000$12,000, leaving many families ineligible for full county assistance.

Officials pointed to SHARP, a targeted short-term housing and resolution program funded by a special appropriation in December, as evidence that resources can rapidly rehouse families. "In the span of four months, we were able to house 121 families," Chief Hong said, adding that those households represented more than 400 people and that more than half were children.

Prevention and cost argument: County staff compared annualized costs to make the prevention case: rental assistance averaged $7,850 per household per year; emergency shelter for individuals averaged $28,923 per bed per year; family shelter averaged $73,188 per family per year; and overflow motel rooms averaged $36,500 per room per year. "The preventive work is more cost effective, and it saves households from the trauma of experiencing homelessness," Chief Hong said.

Policy options discussed: Council members and county staff discussed expanding rental assistance eligibility (to reach families and youth), increasing vouchers via a renewed partnership with the public housing authority, and preserving or growing the countys FY2026 allocation. Chief Hong thanked the council for approving roughly $2 million in the FY2026 budget to maintain eligibility at 60% of area median income for stabilization programs and said program closures in prior months were caused by exhausted budgets.

Unresolved issues and next steps: Committee members pressed for more detail on long-term supports such as employment and financial-literacy services tied to housing placements; Chief Hong said SHARP includes navigation services and lighter-touch case management but that county budgets do not currently cover broad expansion of vocational or financial-management programming. The committee asked staff to return with more granular data and to consider an annualized briefing after the budget cycle.

Speakers quoted: Chief Hong (Chief, Department of Health and Human Services), Sam Kenny (Regional Homeless Systems Coordinator, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments), Hillary Chapman (Housing Program Manager, Council of Governments), Council Member Sales, Council Member Maliki, Council President Stewart.

Ending: The committee adjourned after a multi-topic Q&A; staff said they will continue to refine local data and return with deeper proposals on prevention funding, voucher strategies, and support services.