A Snapshot of Homelessness in California

Overview of Homelessness in California

  • The blog post discusses the state of homelessness in California as reported in January 2019.

Federal and Local Tracking Initiatives

  • Communities conducted a point-in-time count to estimate homeless populations, mandated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

    • Purpose: To help allocate resources and track progress in ending homelessness.

Key Statistics on Homelessness in California

  • Last year’s count indicated approximately 130,000 Californians were homeless.

    • This number constitutes nearly 25% of the national total homeless population.

  • California's homelessness rate is 33 per 10,000 residents, making it one of the highest rates in the country.

  • Homelessness increased by 14% from 2016 to 2017 but slightly declined by 1% from 2017 to 2018.

  • Major urban areas have seen decreases in homelessness, including:

    • Los Angeles

    • San Diego

    • Santa Clara

    • Alameda

Homeless Population Distribution

  • Los Angeles County alone recorded nearly 50,000 homeless individuals.

  • The other nine counties with significant homeless populations reported between 2,300 and 8,600 homeless persons.

  • However, there were increases in homeless populations in various areas across the state.

Unsheltered Homelessness in California

  • The majority of homeless Californians (69%) were unsheltered, living in places not intended for human habitation, which is the highest rate in the nation.

  • Among homeless veterans, California has the highest percentage that are unsheltered at 67%.

  • Among homeless youth, California's unsheltered percentage is 80%, ranking second highest in the nation.

Policy Response to Homelessness

  • California Governor Newsom proposed a budget allocating $500 million in one-time grant funding for:

    • Emergency homeless shelters

    • Navigation centers

  • An ongoing allocation of $25 million to assist eligible homeless individuals with applying for disability benefits.

  • Localities are adopting various approaches to combat homelessness:

    • Expansion of affordable housing

    • Increased services for the homeless

    • Recent local bonds passed in cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley, Santa Rosa, and Emeryville aimed at funding housing projects and assistance for low- and middle-income households and homeless individuals.

Importance of Coordinated Efforts

  • Successful reduction of homelessness will require coordination of investments, policies, and programs at federal, state, and local levels.

Visual Data Representation

  • A visual graphic included illustrates the distribution of sheltered versus unsheltered homeless populations:

    • Sheltered: 31%

    • Unsheltered: 69%

  • Nationally: Sheltered (35%) and Unsheltered (65%).

Relevant Topics

  • Health & Safety Net

  • Homelessness

  • Housing

  • Population Issues

  • Poverty Statistics

  • Needs for strategic funding and policy formulation to address homelessness in California effectively.