Homeless encampments across Pittsburgh remain well below the record levels seen in 2024, but recent county data shows an increase in outdoor homelessness this summer after nearly two years of lower counts.
According to Allegheny County’s encampment dashboard, 26 encampments were documented on Aug. 31, 2026, including 20 along the North Shore Trail and six along the South Side Trail. No known encampments were recorded in downtown Pittsburgh at the end of August.
The numbers remain far below the levels seen during the summer of 2024, when encampment activity reached some of the highest levels recorded by county officials. On Aug. 20, 2024, the dashboard documented 58 encampments downtown, 43 along the North Shore Trail and 42 along the South Side Trail, totaling 143 encampments across the three monitored areas.
The sharp contrast highlights how conditions have changed over the past two years. Throughout much of 2025 and into 2026, encampment counts generally remained in the single digits across the three locations. However, county data shows activity began increasing again in early August, driven primarily by growth in encampments along the North Shore Trail.
Encampment counts represent only a portion of the region’s homelessness challenge and do not measure the total number of people experiencing homelessness. Allegheny County officials track homelessness through several data sources, including shelter usage, street outreach contacts and the county’s annual homelessness estimate.
The most recent official estimate from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services found that 1,108 people were experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County on a single night in February 2026. Of those, 930 people were staying in shelters while 178 were living unsheltered. County officials said 84% of the homeless population counted during the survey was sheltered rather than living outdoors.
DHS officials have said the 2026 estimate established a new baseline for measuring homelessness trends and that the county continues investing in shelter capacity, street outreach and housing programs aimed at helping people move from encampments and emergency shelters into permanent housing.
While Pittsburgh’s encampment numbers remain significantly lower than the levels seen in 2024, the recent increase serves as a reminder that homelessness remains an ongoing challenge across the region, particularly in areas along the city’s riverfront trails where unsheltered residents are most commonly found.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: County data shows homeless encampment spike toward end of summer
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