According to the most recent official estimate, the variety of homeless people in San Mateo County has increased by 18% over the past two years, despite the fact that local authorities have arrange about 300 emergency shelters to assist people get off the streets.
The count released Wednesday found that 2,130 people were homeless across the county. More than half were living outside, in vehicles or other places not designed for housing. The rest were staying in shelters.
Despite the rise, local officials attributed the opening of two shelters in Redwood City and San Mateo to the rise within the variety of homeless individuals with a roof over their heads. The county noted that 985 people were housed in shelters, a 38% increase from 2022.
“This means fewer people are living in more unsafe situations, such as on the streets or in tents,” Claire Cunningham, director of the county's Human Services Agency, said in a press release. “And emergency shelters provide case management and supportive services to help residents find permanent housing.”
The latest numbers come from the county's most up-to-date biennial “Point-In-Time” homeless count, conducted by a team of volunteers and repair providers on a single evening in January.
In the Bay Area, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties also conducted counts earlier this 12 months. Alameda County recently reported that the variety of homeless people dropped by three percent to 9,450, while Oakland's homeless number increased by nine percent. In San Francisco, the variety of homeless people rose by seven percent to over 8,300.
Figures for Contra Costa County are expected soon, while Santa Clara County, which conducted the count last 12 months, won’t conduct one other count until 2025.
Although these estimates are widely viewed as underestimated, they’re critical for cities and counties to plan their homelessness response efforts and determine what state and federal funding they’ll expect.
Although unprecedented billions of public funds have been poured into the fight against homelessness in recent times, getting people off the streets stays a serious challenge as rising housing costs, job losses, and mental health and addiction problems force others to depart homelessness.
“This confirms that our work is never finished and we remain committed to helping as many of our homeless residents as they wish,” County Executive Officer Mike Callagy said in a press release.
Earlier this 12 months, the county passed an ordinance that will criminally penalize homeless individuals who refuse shelter, but just for those in unincorporated areas, an estimated 114 residents. Homeless people sometimes refuse shelter for a wide range of personal reasons, from health and safety concerns to an unwillingness to comply with curfews. County officials hope the ordinance, which homeless advocates have condemned as cruel, generally is a model for cities across the peninsula.
Across San Mateo County, 1,145 homeless people without shelter were identified, a 5% increase from 2022. Of that number, 70% were living of their cars, vans or RVs. The remainder of the homeless had some type of shelter.
Redwood City, where the county opened a 240-unit homeless shelter and orientation center last 12 months, had probably the most homeless people at 189, up from 245 two years ago. Pacifica had the second most at 180, followed by San Mateo at 95.
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