Study shows nearly 3,000 unhoused people in Albuquerque

At least 2,960 people in Albuquerque on Jan. 22 called the streets or an emergency shelter their home, having nowhere else to go. Of that number, 1,367 people were completely unsheltered with no roof over their heads.

On Monday, the yearly Point-In-Time, or PIT, count to assess the number of people experiencing homelessness was released. As concerns over homelessness in Albuquerque continue to grow, so do the number of people living on the streets.

This year’s PIT number showed an 8% increase in homelessness in 2025, or 220 people. Last year, the number was 2,740 people.

The count occurs yearly when dozens of volunteers with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness fan out across the city and count the number of people on the streets or at a shelter and ask about their history with homelessness.

“While the rise is concerning, it reflects what service providers have been seeing for months: growing housing instability, limited affordable options, increase of cost of living and community systems stretched beyond capacity,” the report states.

The PIT count shows the number of homeless individuals in Albuquerque has consistently increased since 2013, with the exception of 2022, when a harsh winter and fewer surveyors may have artificially lowered the number.

Survey respondents answered questions about their experience with homelessness. Most commonly, homeless people said their biggest barrier to housing was missing documentation, at 55%.

The survey did not specify what documents were missing or why they had been missing, but Jen Boylan, with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, said roughly 80% of respondents in 2024 said they had lost a birth certificate, Social Security card or driver’s license during encampment sweeps.

Lack of housing vouchers and high rental prices followed as the second-biggest reasons, with 43% of respondents citing those as their reasons for homelessness.

“The Point-in-Time Count is useful, but it’s a one-night snapshot with very narrow federal definitions,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “It doesn’t reflect the full scale of homelessness in Albuquerque, which is why we rely on our daily data systems that show roughly 5,000 people cycle in and out of homelessness over the course of a year.”

Demographics

Certain demographics were overrepresented in the data, according to the study.

Despite making up about 9% of New Mexico’s population, 17% of the unsheltered population were Indigenous.

The study showed a massive increase in seniors experiencing homelessness since 2023, with a 23.6% increase. People ages 55-64 had a 43% increase in homelessness since 2023.

People ages 35-44 were the highest number of unsheltered people, with 479 people staying in the streets the night of Jan. 22. The same age group was also the highest in terms of seeking emergency shelter.

William Bowen, a continuum of care program officer for the coalition, said the boost might show a change in older people being able to work. However, seniors also sought out emergency housing at a higher rate than other age groups. They made up 34% of people in shelters.

The report showed of the 1,367 unsheltered people, 49.8% of them said they were experiencing homelessness for the first time, a “sharp uptick” that may be linked to things like inflation and repeals of pandemic-era relief programs, including an eviction moratorium, according to Bowen.

Nearly half of respondents were not from New Mexico, the study found. A majority of transplants said they were from Texas, Arizona or Colorado. About 36% of those respondents said they were not homeless prior to moving to New Mexico.

“It is more common for people to become homeless after relocating,” Bowen said.

Limitations

The PIT report cautions that the 2,960-person count is a “conservative estimate” rather than a full look at homelessness in Albuquerque.

“It is important to note that the scale of this increase is likely far greater than reflected in the PIT Count,” the study states.

If a person happened to be housed on Jan. 22 — whether through a friend or family member who offers a bed for the night, purchasing a hotel room, being hospitalized or sent to jail — they would be excluded from the count.

Children also tend to be underrepresented in the survey because “parents will often do everything in their power to make sure their child remains hidden, even if the parent is forced to sleep on the street so the child can receive temporary housing,” the report states.

Encampment sweeps may also affect the count, though the report states the city of Albuquerque agreed to pause encampment sweeps for the survey.

Additionally, some choose not to participate in the survey, skewing the numbers further. Over 878 individuals refused to participate in this year’s survey.

“We cannot lose sight of the fact that every person counted deserves stability and dignity,” Bowen said. “This report strengthens our resolve to push for the housing and services our community needs — and that every person deserves.”