Dive Brief:
- Santa Clara County, California, saw an 8.2% increase in people experiencing homelessness compared with 2023. The number of unsheltered residents grew to 10,711, according to the county’s latest point-in-time count, which is conducted every two years.
- Among those surveyed, 58% reported it was their first time experiencing homelessness, up from 34% in 2023. The number of sheltered people rose 30%, a result of expanded services and beds since 2023, according to the county.
- The recently released data was collected in January using a new “survey-first approach,” according to KJ Kaminski, director of the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing, “meaning instead of just observing folks and counting them from afar, we're talking to as many people who are experiencing homelessness as we can.”
Dive Insight:
The U.S. recorded an 18% surge in people experiencing homelessness in 2024, with increases in nearly every demographic. Lack of affordable housing, wage gaps and structural inequities have contributed to the problem in Santa Clara County, according to its report.
The county has added 364 beds since 2023, and its unsheltered population remained “relatively flat” with a 1% increase from 2023. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness fell 21%, and the number of families experiencing homelessness rose 37%
“The PIT count results are consistent with what the County and homelessness experts have observed in recent years: more people are entering than exiting homelessness in the region,” the county stated.
Looming federal budget cuts to Medicaid and food assistance may also exacerbate the problem locally, the county said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, has highlighted declines in homelessness throughout the state, including Los Angeles County, this year while calling for select encampment removals.
In gathering its latest data, Santa Clara County used Simtech Solutions' Counting Us mobile app, which facilitated real-time data collection, canvassing and interviews with more than 1,500 people experiencing homelessness, according to the county.
The county’s new survey-first approach, conducted by more than 700 volunteers, allows for better insights into challenges, according to Kaminski.
“People should know that there’s no perfect way to count everybody who is experiencing homelessness,” Kaminski stated. “That said, we can use the information that we learned from this count to inform our programs and our policies and help find a way to move people from homelessness into housing, permanently.”
