PHOENIX — As the city of Phoenix is working on placing more people in shelters after a judge's recent ruling to clearthe largest homeless encampment in the region, new data shows that the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Valley is increasing.
The annual federally mandated point-in-time count released Monday found that 9,642 people were experiencing homelessness in the Phoenix metro as of January 2023, which is about 616 more people, or 7%, than last year, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments.
The amount of those living without shelter was nearly 5,000 people, down 2% since last year, although experts say the point-in-time count is not always accurate.
It also found that 4,743 people were living in temporary housing, which is an increase of 18% of people living in a shelter since last year.
Although cities like Phoenix have been working to add shelter beds and turn aging hotels into shelters, the Phoenix metro is still experiencing a severe shortage in all types of housing, including those needed to help keep people out of homelessness.
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