Today, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is sharing the results of the 2025 Point-in-Time Count. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires Continuum of Care (CoC) organizations across the country to conduct a Count each year during the last 10 days of January. The PIT Count is a one-night count of sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness, which was held on the evening of Jan. 23, 2025, and the early morning hours of Jan. 24, 2025. More than 100 volunteers and 32 organizations participated in this critical effort, including Mayor Freddie O'Connell. Nashville's emergency shelters operated their shelter programs and counted people staying with them during that night. In response to freezing temperatures, the Metro Emergency Overflow Shelter was opened, and the city's Cold Weather Plan was activated. This plan is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below for at least three consecutive hours.
As part of the annual Unsheltered Point-in-Time Count, teams of volunteers canvassed Davidson County overnight, identifying individuals sleeping outdoors or in vehicles. On the night of January 23, Nashville recorded a slight increase in the number of people experiencing literal homelessness—from 2,094 individuals in the previous year to 2,180 this year.
Point-in-Time Count 2025 Infographic
"Each year, on a single night, we get a glimpse into the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community through the Point in Time count, and that single number in time tells us a small piece of the realities of homelessness in our community," said Mayor Freddie O'Connell. "Each person's experience with homelessness is unique, and there is a lot we can learn from more robust information. In 2024, OHS partnered with our largest shelter provider to support improved data and understanding of the true extent of homelessness in Nashville. This information is key to developing more cohesive collaboration and comprehensive services for people experiencing homelessness in Nashville."
"Homelessness is a growing national crisis driven by economic pressures, housing shortages, and systemic barriers," said April Calvin. "We saw a 4.1% increase in people experiencing literal homelessness in this year's 2025 PIT Count. While any increase is cause for reflection, it's important to note that this rise remains well below the national average of an 18% increase in homelessness in 2024.Thanks to the dedication of outreach teams, service providers, and community partners who continue to work tirelessly to connect people with housing, services, and support-we are holding the line."
Major Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander of the Salvation Army in Southwest Florida and speaker at last week's Homelessness Symposium stated, "The primary driver of the rate of homelessness experienced is housing pressure. While Nashville is actively engaged in tamping down housing pressure, the system that rehouses Nash Neighbors is throttled in success. But don't be dismayed, while persons being served in the system are still literally homeless, thus still counted, the speed of rehousing and the strength of the system is increasing."
Furthermore, Nashville's commitment to data integration and community investment remains unwavering. In 2024, we established and implemented a data bridge with the Nashville Rescue Mission allowing for increased data collection that will shed light on the true extent of homelessness in our city. This vital information fuels our collective drive to push for more cohesive collaboration and comprehensive services to establish a true baseline for homelessness in our city.
Additional key findings from the 2025 Count include:
- 67 % of the adult population experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count were men.
- 43% of the adult population experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count were Black or African American.
- 74 % of unsheltered individuals reported having a disability.
- 48 % of unsheltered people surveyed are experiencing chronic homelessness.
- 41 % of unsheltered individuals reported mental health needs.
The Count is an essential tool for understanding the scope of homelessness. While it provides valuable insights, it is important to recognize its limitations. The numbers represent a point-in-time snapshot and may not reflect the true extent of homelessness over an entire year.
In the graphic below, we break down who is included in the count.
Unsheltered: This category includes individuals experiencing homelessness who were observed by volunteer teams on the evening of Jan. 23, 2025, and early morning hours of Jan. 24, 2025, to be sleeping outside or in places not meant for human habitation.
Literally Homeless: These are individuals using beds specifically designated for those experiencing homelessness at emergency shelter programs like the Nashville Rescue Mission, Room in The Inn, Metro Emergency Overflow Shelter and others.
HUD's Definition of Homelessness: This category encompasses people sleeping in transitional housing beds dedicated to those experiencing homelessness, including select programs at the Nashville Rescue Mission, OSDTN, Room in The Inn, The Mary Parrish Center and The Salvation Army and those who are staying in places not meant for human habitation.
It is important to note that the Count does not capture everyone who falls under the broadest definition of homelessness. For example, it does not include individuals and families defined as homeless under federal statutes other than HUD For example, the U.S. Department of Education employs a broader definition of homelessness that includes children in families who are doubled up or living in area motels without a voucher due to economic hardship or housing loss.
Here's How You Can Help
Volunteer with a community partner who serves people experiencing homelessness. To find information about homeless services providers, visit Where to Turn in Nashville.
Consider a financial contribution. How's Nashville assists people with up to $1,000 in move-in costs per household, and there is an urgent need to replenish the community's fund. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, email joseph.marsh@nashville.gov.
To learn more about the work of the Office of Homeless Services visit the department page on Nashville.gov.
Office of Homeless Services needs landlords willing to accept rental subsidies. If you are a landlord and would like more information about the program, please email jamila.grimes@nashville.gov.
The Low Barrier Housing Collective is a collaboration among support service providers, landlords and community members in Nashville dedicated to ending homelessness. Based at the Office of Homeless Services, the Collective connects individuals and families experiencing homelessness to private market units that offer flexible screening criteria in exchange for benefits designed to stimulate landlord participation and mitigate risk for the property owner. For more information, visit How the Low Barrier Housing Collective Works.
Join a listserv of nearly 700 interested agencies and individuals who want to end homelessness or attend a meeting of the Nashville Coalition for the Homeless and the Continuum of Care. For more information, email Raquel.DeLaHuerga@nashville.gov.
About the Nashville Office of Homeless Services
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