Local unsheltered population exceeds 2023 record high even as homelessness declines

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Dayton will stop operating the Gettysburg Gateway Shelter later this month. The shelter is located 1921 S. Gettysburg Ave. in southwest Dayton. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Dayton will stop operating the Gettysburg Gateway Shelter later this month. The shelter is located 1921 S. Gettysburg Ave. in southwest Dayton. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF
Local News
By Sydney Dawes
23 hours ago
X

The number of local people in homeless shelters decreased 7% compared to last year, but an annual count found the highest number of unsheltered people in recent years.

Montgomery County recently released the results of the annual Point-in-Time count. The PIT count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, represents a snapshot of what homelessness looks like in the area.

“One person sleeping unsheltered is one too many,” said Montgomery County Commission President Judy Dodge. “Everyone deserves the dignity of a safe, affordable place to live. We remain committed to addressing homelessness with urgency, compassion and strategic action.”

In January, teams of workers traveled throughout Montgomery County to count the number of people sleeping in shelters or in unsheltered spaces like under bridges or in abandoned buildings.

201820192020
People in Shelter499528593
Unsheltered Persons514949
Total550577642

Unsheltered count on rise

Montgomery County continues to see an increase in the number of individuals sleeping unsheltered. This year’s count saw 111 people sleeping outside of shelters and homes, a nearly 21% increase from the 2024 count.

This marks a continued rise in unsheltered homelessness since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and remains well above pre-pandemic levels — in January 2020, the unsheltered total was 49 people.

Montgomery County received a waiver from HUD in 2021 and did not conduct an unsheltered count because of COVID-19.

Montgomery saw record-high numbers in 2023 for people taking up space in shelters and unsheltered people in Montgomery County, with 771 people being recorded in the annual count. During this count, 107 people were found in unsheltered spaces.

Gettysburg Gateway Shelter

This year’s total of 639 people, sheltered and unsheltered, reflects a decrease of 48 people compared to 2024.

The sheltered count included individuals and families sleeping in emergency shelters: Daybreak, Gettysburg Gateway Shelter for Men, St. Vincent de Paul Shelter for Women & Families, Holt Street and the YWCA Dayton Domestic Violence Shelter.

Management of the Gettysburg Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men in Dayton will transition to Homefull by the beginning of July, according to county officials.

St. Vincent de Paul last year announced plans to cease operating the men’s shelter by July, citing financial challenges and an end to federal emergency relief.

The Montgomery County commission in March approved a proposal to have Homefull, Inc. take on operations of the Gettysburg Gateway for Men Emergency Shelter.

Homefull will be tasked with providing meals, maintaining the facility and more. Representatives of the nonprofit did not return a request for comment about its plans for Gateway.

In Other News
1
First look inside Pins Mechanical Co. in Dayton
2
House approves DOGE cuts as Turner breaks with GOP
3
Dayton officer shoots man armed with handgun after truck reportedly...
4
Gas prices drop to lowest June levels since 2021
5
West Carrollton extends cannabis business ban amid ongoing legal...

About the Author

Follow Sydney Dawes on twitter

Sydney Dawes covers news in Montgomery County for Dayton Daily News. She previously worked as a reporter for the Springfield News-Sun, and prior to then, she served as the editor of The Athens NEWS and the Vinton-Jackson Courier. Dawes has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University.