P-I-T
Press Release
FOR CLASS RELEASE ONLY JOUR 4460 Spring 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Javelle McKenzie
Director of Public Relations
832-773-8397
The Continuing rise of Homelessness in Denton County
(DENTON, Texas – Jan. 13, 2026) Homelessness is a critical challenge in the U.S. Homelessness is when an individual lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate residence. Homelessness is becoming greater than average because of the economic state of the U.S. Many people become homeless because of the lack of high paying jobs, lack of housing and high rent, lack of insurance on medical bills, health conditions, and discrimination. These factors often overlap, making it difficult for individuals and families to recover once they lose stable housing. Without proper support systems in place, people experiencing homelessness face increased barriers.
“Homelessness is rarely caused by one single factor,” said Gary Henderson, United Way of Denton president and CEO. “We see individuals who are working, families with children, and people facing unexpected medical or financial crises. These are our neighbors and understanding their circumstances is the first step toward creating meaningful solutions.
”According to the United Way of Denton and the Point-in-Time Count, as of 2025 there
are around 690 people who are unhoused. This is a 33% increase from 2024. The reason for
most of these numbers is because of the population growth in Denton county. As the population
increases, the demand for affordable housing also rises, leaving many individuals without access
to stable and affordable living conditions.
In addition, shelter became more limited due to the reduced hours at Our Daily Bread. This reduction has made it more difficult for unhoused people to access meals, shelter, and essential support services. Limited shelter availability often forces people to remain outdoors or in unsafe environments, especially during extreme weather.
“These challenges show why collaboration between the city, nonprofits, and residents is so important,” said Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth. “Addressing homelessness requires both immediate support and long-term planning to ensure safe housing.”
In order to take action and help solve homelessness, people must address the systemic issues rooted in the U.S. A way to start helping individuals who are struggling with homelessness, would be to look at Point-In-Time Count (PIT). PIT is an annual count of unhoused individuals across the U.S. This nation-wide count is important in collecting data, raising awareness in the community, engaging the community to end homelessness and advocating for local and federal funding. This count takes place Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 and you can sign up through the _____ website.
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About ___________: _____ helps people overcome
barriers to good health and wellbeing by improving access to nutritious food and quality health and mental health services.
About ___________: The _______
(_______ seeks to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring through coordinated services delivered to those experiencing and those at risk of homelessness.
About ___________: The ______ is committed to providing a high quality of life through excellence in public services, responsible stewardship of resources, and collaborative community engagement. With a vision of “Destination Denton,” the city works to create opportunities in education, employment, entertainment, and sustainable growth while fostering respect, integrity, and fairness for all residents.