City of Nashville, TN
08/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2026 12:48
2026 PIT Count
The Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County Office of Homeless Services today released the certified results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, identifying 2,298 people (655 of 2,298 people unsheltered) experiencing literal homelessness on the night of Jan. 22, 2026.
The annual count increased by 118 people, or 5.4%, from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count. A requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the count is one of the nation's primary tools for understanding homelessness at the local level and helps communities identify needs, monitor trends and inform decisions about housing, outreach, emergency shelter and supportive services.
More than 100 volunteers worked overnight alongside outreach teams, emergency shelter providers, health care partners, veterans' organizations, nonprofit agencies and Metro staff to conduct this year's count.
Temperatures were already dangerously low on the night of the count, prompting Metro to activate its Cold Weather Plan and open the Metro Emergency Overflow Shelter. The count also occurred several days before the onset of Nashville's most severe winter ice storm in decades. Volunteers used their interactions to share shelter information and help people prepare for worsening conditions. OHS continued coordinating with the Office of Emergency Management, Metro departments and community partners to help people get indoors and remain safe.
Nashville's PIT Count has fluctuated within a comparatively narrow range as homelessness increased substantially across the country and in similarly sized communities. During the common 2022-2025 comparison period, Nashville's count increased 13.8%, compared with a 28% national increase and a 36.1% average increase among the selected comparison communities. National and comparison-community data for 2026 have not yet been released. Nashville's certified 2026 count was 2,298, a 5.4% increase from 2025.
Five-Year Trend
Mayor Freddie O'Connell had this to say:
The Point-in-Time Count provides an important snapshot of homelessness in Nashville and helps us better understand where needs exist across our community. Behind every number is a person, and every person deserves the opportunity to access safe, stable housing. I'm grateful to the volunteers, providers, health care partners and Metro staff who came together to make this year's count possible. Their work helps us plan responsibly, make informed decisions and continue strengthening Nashville's response to homelessness.
Understanding the Point-in-Time Count
Communities across the country conduct the count during the same period each January. Because the methodology remains consistent from year to year, the PIT Count provides an important benchmark for understanding trends over time.
The count includes people staying in emergency shelters, HUD-eligible transitional housing, people sleeping outdoors, or in places not meant for human habitation. It is not a census of everyone who experiences homelessness during the year. It does not include many individuals and families experiencing other forms of housing instability, such as people temporarily staying with friends or relatives or living in hotels or motels because of economic hardship.
What Was Different This Year
This year's results reflect the conditions present on the night of the count and several operational improvements that helped identify people experiencing homelessness more completely. Metro's Cold Weather Plan and Emergency Overflow Shelter allowed more people to safely access emergency shelter that night.
Community partners expanded overnight outreach initiatives to engage individuals experiencing homelessness in every emergency department in Davidson County. Health-focused outreach workers visited each emergency department twice during the overnight count to identify individuals who had not been admitted to the hospital but met HUD's eligibility requirements for inclusion in the Point-in-Time Count. The count also included additional emergency shelter capacity by providers. These new partnerships expanded the community's ability to identify people experiencing homelessness in locations that had not previously been incorporated into the overnight count, resulting in a more comprehensive and accurate snapshot of homelessness across Nashville.
April Calvin, Director of the Office of Homeless Services had this to say:
The data help us identify trends, evaluate needs, and work with our partners to strengthen the systems that connect people to housing and support. We remain committed to collecting high-quality data, being transparent about what the data tell us, and using that information to make better decisions, strengthen our response, and achieve better outcomes for our community.
Who is Counted?
| Category | Description |
| Unsheltered | People observed sleeping outdoors or in places not meant for human habitation. |
| Sheltered | People staying in emergency shelters designated for individuals experiencing homelessness. |
| HUD Transitional Housing | People staying in HUD-eligible transitional housing programs dedicated to individuals experiencing homelessness. |
| Who is NOT counted | This count does not include people who are doubled up with friends or family, living in hotels, or people staying in institutions such as jails or hospitals. |
Why the Point-in-Time Count Matters
No single measure can fully capture the complexity of homelessness. The Point-in-Time Count remains one of the most valuable tools available for understanding local needs, identifying trends and informing decisions about housing and services.
The Office of Homeless Services will continue working alongside nonprofit providers, health care organizations, outreach teams, volunteers, advocates and residents to strengthen Nashville's coordinated response to homelessness and expand pathways to safe, stable housing.
About the Office of Homeless Services
The Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County Office of Homeless Services leads Nashville's coordinated response to homelessness by aligning public investments, community partnerships, data, outreach, shelter, housing navigation and supportive services. OHS works with nonprofit providers, health care partners, faith-based organizations, neighborhood groups, people with lived experience of homelessness and Metro departments to connect residents experiencing homelessness to resources that support housing stability. The office also supports community planning, federal funding coordination, emergency response efforts, public information and systemwide strategies designed to improve outcomes for individuals and families. Through transparent data, collaborative problem-solving and a focus on safe, stable housing, OHS helps Nashville make informed decisions and strengthen the community systems that serve neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Stay Connected
Learn more about the Office of Homeless Services, homelessness initiatives, and volunteer opportunities by visiting:
City of Nashville, TN published this content on August 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 21, 2026 at 18:48 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]