Franklin County Sees 43% Surge in Unsheltered Homelessness
Franklin County’s unsheltered homeless population surged 43% in one year as more people live in camps and cars despite overall homelessness rising only slightly.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Franklin County recorded a 43% increase in unsheltered homelessness over the past year, according to the latest Point-in-Time Count released Sunday, highlighting a growing crisis as more people live in encampments and vehicles.
The annual count identified 2,587 people experiencing homelessness countywide, representing a 1.2% increase from 2025. While the overall numbers remained relatively stable, the breakdown revealed a concerning shift toward unsheltered living situations.
Sheltered vs. Unsheltered Numbers
Unsheltered homelessness jumped from 455 people in 2025 to 651 in 2026. Meanwhile, sheltered homelessness decreased by 8%, with 165 fewer people staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing compared to the previous year.
“We’re seeing more people forced to live outside in encampments and cars and places that are never meant for human habitation,” said Columbus City Councilmember Tiara Ross.
The Point-in-Time counts are one-night estimates of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness conducted nationwide in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Franklin County’s count took place in January.
Weather Conditions Affect Count Accuracy
Community Shelter Board President and CEO Shannon TL Isom said weather conditions likely influenced this year’s results. Last year’s count occurred during a winter storm, which allowed officials to house people in hotels and motels, counting them as sheltered rather than unsheltered.
“When we were counting, it was during a winter storm last year … and we were able, because of hotels and motels, to have people gathered, so we ended up counting them as sheltered when, otherwise, like this year, they would have been outside,” Isom said.
Isom also suggested the current numbers may underestimate the true scope of unsheltered homelessness. “If people are outside on our cold days, then what we suspect is that that is an under count,” she said. “There’s even more people that are outside on our cold days.”
Projected Future Increases
The situation is expected to worsen significantly in the coming years. Franklin County is projected to see a 68% increase in unsheltered homelessness by 2028, according to the report.
The data reflects ongoing challenges in Ohio’s most populous county as housing costs continue to rise and affordable housing remains scarce. Franklin County includes Columbus, the state’s largest city, and surrounding communities.
Local officials and service providers continue to work on solutions to address both immediate shelter needs and long-term housing stability for the county’s homeless population.
