The Regional Task Force on the Homeless’ 2019 Point-in-Time Count found the number of homeless people in San Diego County dropped by 6 percent from the previous year.
Conducted this past January, the homeless count showed that 8,102 men, women and children are living on the street or in shelters, compared to the 8,576 counted in 2018. The results, announced at a news conference Monday, are used to apply for federal funds to help local homeless people and to find solutions on how to best serve the most vulnerable in our community.
The Point-in-Time Count provides a one-day snapshot of people living on the streets or in short-term shelters. Of the 8,102 homeless people in the region, 3,626 were living in a shelter during the count this year compared to 3,586 last year, a 1 percent increase. Also, 4,476 were unsheltered, compared to 4,990 last year, a 10 percent decrease.
This year, volunteers counted and surveyed homeless people across the region.
This is what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls an “engaged” survey-based approach, where the homeless were asked a list of questions when they were counted.
Initially brought forward by Supervisor Greg Cox, this is the sixth year the County has recruited employees to help with the effort.
More than 1,500 people participated in this year’s homeless count, including about 450 County employees.
“It’s great to see so many County employees participate in the homeless count every year,” said David Estrella, director of Housing and Community Development Services at the County Health and Human Services Agency.
For complete results of the count, visit the San Diego Task Force on the Homeless website.
