Homeless Count Shows Growing Number of Women, Veterans in San Luis Valley

The annual Point-in-Time count reveals an increase in homelessness, with Costilla County having the highest number of unhoused individuals and veterans.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:09am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a blurred camper van parked on a dirt road with mountains in the distance, conveying a sense of isolation and precariousness.The annual homeless count in Colorado's San Luis Valley reveals a growing number of people, including veterans, living off-grid in campers without access to basic utilities.San Luis Today

The annual 'Point-in-Time' homeless count conducted by the nonprofit La Puente in Colorado's San Luis Valley shows an overall increase in the homeless population, with notable rises in the number of women and veterans experiencing homelessness. Costilla County had the highest total homeless count at 196, including 45 veterans. The data also indicates growing numbers of people living off-grid in campers without access to running water or sewage in areas like Blanca and Fort Garland.

Why it matters

The homeless count data helps determine funding and services to address homelessness in the region. The increase in women and veterans experiencing homelessness highlights the need for targeted support and resources for these vulnerable populations. The growing number of off-grid residents also points to a need for outreach and assistance to those living in precarious conditions without basic utilities.

The details

The 2026 preliminary homeless count conducted by La Puente found 196 homeless individuals in Costilla County, the highest in the San Luis Valley. This included 45 veterans, nearly a quarter of the 196 total. Across the six-county region, the count showed an increase of 68 homeless people from 2025, with Costilla and Conejos counties having the highest homeless populations. In Alamosa, the count revealed a growing number of women experiencing homelessness, with essentially equal numbers of women and men who are unhoused. Domestic violence appears to be a factor in the rise of women experiencing homelessness in Rio Grande County.

  • The annual 'Point-in-Time' homeless count by La Puente was conducted in late January 2026.
  • The 2026 preliminary homeless count data has been sent to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

The players

DJ Salazar

The founder of the SLV Community Solutions nonprofit, which works to address food insecurity among veterans in the San Luis Valley.

Lance Cheslock

The director of La Puente, the nonprofit that conducts the annual homeless count in the San Luis Valley.

Christina Bolt-Saulnier

The Street Outreach Director at La Puente.

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What they’re saying

“From Fort Garland to San Luis there is a growing amount of people in their campers and no (water) well.”

— DJ Salazar, Founder, SLV Community Solutions

“It's a science. We have our methods, and what's important for people to know is that it is like the census. Every sheet that we go through, with the information we are required to gather and how we vet whether they're homeless or not.”

— Lance Cheslock, Director, La Puente

“Those people could use the resources.”

— DJ Salazar, Founder, SLV Community Solutions

What’s next

La Puente plans to distribute the final homeless count data to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, which will use the information to determine funding and services for addressing homelessness in the San Luis Valley.

The takeaway

The growing number of women and veterans experiencing homelessness in the San Luis Valley, as well as the rise in off-grid living without access to basic utilities, highlights the need for targeted support and outreach to these vulnerable populations in order to effectively address the region's homelessness crisis.