The Pikes Peak Continuum of Care’s 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count revealed a 19% decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness in El Paso County, Colorado. The count identified 1,413 individuals experiencing homelessness, a significant drop from the 1,745 counted in 2025. However, the organization cautions that this decrease must be understood in the context of the extreme cold weather during the count period.
Impact of Cold Weather
The count was conducted from January 24-28, 2026, during a period of dangerously cold weather, with temperatures plummeting below 0°F and wind chills reaching -25°F. These harsh conditions activated the City’s Cold Weather Protocol, leading to increased shelter utilization and fewer individuals visible in unsheltered locations. This likely contributed to the reported decrease in homelessness, according to the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care (PPCoC).
In 2026, the count identified 308 individuals as unsheltered, while 1,105 were in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or safe haven settings. Among those counted, 283 individuals met the federal definition of chronic homelessness, indicating they live with disabling conditions and have experienced extended or repeated periods without housing.
Community Efforts and Challenges
More than 100 volunteers, along with local service providers and housing programs, coordinated the effort to survey individuals in various settings, including emergency shelters and unsheltered locations. The severe weather conditions posed significant challenges for surveyors, likely resulting in an undercount of the homeless population.
Becky Treece, PPCoC Board Chair, emphasized the ongoing efforts of service providers, outreach teams, healthcare partners, housing organizations, faith communities, and local governments to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with necessary resources. She noted that while the PIT Count offers a snapshot of homelessness, year-round data provides a more comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs.
Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade acknowledged the latest results, expressing encouragement at the decrease in homelessness. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of the city with various partners to address homelessness through coordinated street outreach, shelter support, and investments in housing solutions. The city’s objective is to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, balancing compassion, public safety, and long-term stability for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
