Unsheltered homelessness refers to a situation in which an individual is living in a place not meant for human habitation, such as on the street, in an encampment, or in an abandoned building. Experiences of unsheltered homelessness vary; i.e., episodes may be intermittent or continuous, short or long. Some individuals move back-and-forth between unsheltered and sheltered situations.
We have created three public-facing dashboards that include information about unsheltered homelessness in Allegheny County. Each dashboard uses a different data source and thus presents a distinct way of thinking about and understanding this issue in our region.
Trends in Sheltered and Unsheltered Homelessness Dashboard
The unsheltered tab of this dashboard displays weekly counts of street outreach clients with recent stays outside, from 2022 to present.
This dashboard uses street outreach program data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Use this dashboard to see trends over time (including seasonal changes) in the number of street outreach clients whose most recent living situation was an unsheltered one.
This dashboard cannot tell you the number of people unsheltered on any given night and it only captures information on clients who are enrolled in a street outreach program that uses HMIS. Some unsheltered individuals do not want to engage with outreach staff; others are enrolled in programs that do not use HMIS. Additionally, while the data refresh every week, the dashboard considers recorded living situations up to 30 days prior and cannot provide an “as of today” snapshot.
Encampment Dashboard
This dashboard shows visible tent encampments in Downtown Pittsburgh and riverfront trails, updated weekly, from 2023 to present.
This dashboard uses data from an observational survey regularly conducted by ACDHS staff who typically cover the route on bicycle.
Use this dashboard to see trends over time in the number of visible tents and makeshift structures in Downtown Pittsburgh and riverfront trails.
This dashboard does not calculate the actual number of people using a tent or structure. One tent/structure may house one or more people. It may also be vacant, shared, borrowed or used for storage. The data collection route is limited to specific parts of Downtown Pittsburgh and riverfront trails and does not cover all of Allegheny County. It does not include data on other encampments that may be hidden from public view but known to ACDHS or other outreach providers.
Annual Point-in-Time Estimate of People Experiencing Homelessness Dashboard
This dashboard (and corresponding reports) features data captured on a single night each year, from 2009 to the present. You can view the annual Point‑in‑Time Count reports on the Point‑in‑Time Count of People Experiencing Homelessness page.
The unsheltered estimate uses survey data collected on or just after the night of the count. In 2026, we launched “Community Counts” to mark the reimagining of this annual effort toward an approach that will allow for more accurate year-over-year trends.
Use this dashboard to see an estimate of the number of people sleeping unsheltered on a single night and how that compares to the number of people staying in shelter or other short-term housing programs. Using the available filters, you can also see basic demographic information (age, race/ethnicity, gender) for the estimated unsheltered population.
These data are limited to one night each year (always in winter). The methodology for the unsheltered count has changed over time, which has made it difficult to accurately compare year-over-year trends. But the newly implemented methodology, which is standardized and replicable, now allows for such comparisons beginning with the 2026 count.
Questions or Feedback?
We welcome your questions and suggestions. To share feedback, email us at DHSResearch@alleghenycounty.us. If you’d like to stay informed, consider signing up for our newsletter. To learn how to use ACDHS data in your research, please visit our Requesting Data page. Thank you for your time and interest. Your engagement helps shape and improve how we share data that matters.