The number of people counted as homeless in Denton dropped sharply this year after several years of increases, according to figures the city's homeless programs staff will present to an advisory committee on Friday.
The annual point-in-time count, a one-night tally that communities across the country conduct for federal housing officials, found 357 people experiencing homelessness in the city of Denton in 2026. That is down from 607 in 2025, a 41% decline, the presentation shows.
The count had been climbing. The city's figure was 159 in 2019 and rose to 214 in 2020, 384 in 2022, 371 in 2023 and 424 in 2024 before last year's jump. Countywide, the 2026 tally was 433 people, including 62 in Lewisville and 14 in other cities, compared with 690 a year earlier. The presentation does not explain what drove the drop.
Who is waiting for housing
A separate snapshot in the same slides lists 435 households on Denton County's Housing Priority List as of August. Each household is assessed and given a score that steers it toward a type of help.
By the city's breakdown, 72 households scored in the range for diversion, 205 in the range for rapid rehousing or transitional housing, and 158 in the range for permanent supportive housing, the long-term option meant for people who have been homeless for a long time and have a disability. Agencies review the list in weekly case conferences.
The slides list Our Daily Bread's shelter at 120 beds for individuals, with more opened during bad weather, and the Salvation Army at 40 beds.
A monthly report in the same packet shows the city's $400,000 agreement with Our Daily Bread for shelter operations had served 1,482 people through August, close to its goal of 1,500. A $125,450 street outreach contract with Giving Grace had reached 91 people against a goal of 235.
