(EL PASO COUNTY) — A new report is showing nearly 600 more people are experiencing homelessness in El Paso County this year compared to 2024.

“This is likely due to both a real increase in homelessness and a more comprehensive count,” said Becky Treece, the Chair of the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care.

The latest Point in Time report shows 1,745 people were counted on Jan. 26, which topped the previous record set in 2023 by 39.6 percent. The number of people not using resources doubled from 259 in 2024 to 522 in 2025. But more people are getting help through emergency and transitional housing. The report shows 236 more people were in emergency housing, while 100 more people were in transitional housing. But city leaders are cautioning that there is still plenty of work to do.

“We are not one solution away from ending homelessness,” said Aimee Cox, the Housing and Homelessness Officer for Colorado Springs. “Homelessness is complex, and our response has to be multifaceted.”

The report also finds that more beds for the homeless were available countywide, jumping from 2,112 to 2,455. City leaders are saying more are on the way.

“I checked in today and, in the pipeline, right now for housing, we have more than 400 units under construction and more than 800 breaking ground in the next 12 months,” Cox said.

But city leaders are cautioning challenges are ahead in terms of potential financial challenges, with Colorado Springs facing an $11 million dollar shortfall combined with two shelters facing financial strains of their own.

“The city doesn’t have just money to pull out and like let’s just go to this other piggy bank and fund these things,” Cox said.

Either way, city and county leaders will have to find a way to find funding or stretch a dollar to keep helping.

“If we want a thriving, resilient community, we all have to play a role in solving this,” Treece said.