Since July 2024, Topeka and Shawnee County’s homeless population has decreased by 12 individuals according to the City of Topeka’s January Point in Time Homeless Count released on March 18.
The count took place on January 22, 2025. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in the community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 40 people helped with this January’s count.
According to the count, 534 people and 399 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. Of the 534 individuals, 60% of those are male, 39% are female, .5% identify as transgender, and 151 are unsheltered, or not living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
“The point-in-time count provides a valuable opportunity to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with essential services and resources in the community,” said Carrie Higgins, Housing Services Division Director. “We are grateful to all the volunteers and partner agencies who contributed to the count and continue to support efforts to improve our community.”
Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from the previous four counts. For a detailed look at the Jan. 2025
numbers, Click Here.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Jan. 2024 |
July 2024 |
Jan. 2025 |
|
| People | 401 | 298 | 365 | 412 | 537 | 546 | 534 |
| Households | 306 | 254 | 297 | 322 | 442 | 433 | 399 |
| # of Veteran Households | 40 | 16 | 37 | 25 | 47 | 46 | 49 |
| # of Individuals in an Emergency Shelter |
254 | 155 | 163 | 194 | 276 | 255 | 289 |
| # of Individuals in Transitional Housing |
51 | 38 | 54 | 61 | 58 | 75 | 94 |
| # of Individuals Unsheltered |
68 | 105 | 148 | 157 | 203 | 216 | 151 |
To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count ensures the
city can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to those experiencing
homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.