Santa Clara County information surge in first-time homelessness

Dive Transient:

• Santa Clara County, California, noticed an 8.2% improve in folks experiencing homelessness in contrast with 2023. The variety of unsheltered residents grew to 10,711, in accordance with the county’s newest point-in-time depend, which is carried out each two years. 
• Amongst these surveyed, 58% reported it was their first time experiencing homelessness, up from 34% in 2023. The variety of sheltered folks rose 30%, a results of expanded companies and beds since 2023, in accordance with the county.
• The lately launched information was collected in January utilizing a brand new “survey-first method,” in accordance with KJ Kaminski, director of the County of Santa Clara Workplace of Supportive Housing, “that means as a substitute of simply observing of us and counting them from afar, we’re speaking to as many people who find themselves experiencing homelessness as we will.”

Dive Perception:

The U.S. recorded an 18% surge in folks experiencing homelessness in 2024, with will increase in practically each demographic. Lack of inexpensive housing, wage gaps and structural inequities have contributed to the issue in Santa Clara County, in accordance with its report. 

The county has added 364 beds since 2023, and its unsheltered inhabitants remained “comparatively flat” with a 1% improve from 2023. The variety of veterans experiencing homelessness fell 21%, and the variety of households experiencing homelessness rose 37%

“The PIT depend outcomes are in line with what the County and homelessness consultants have noticed in recent times: extra individuals are getting into than exiting homelessness within the area,” the county acknowledged.

Looming federal price range cuts to Medicaid and meals help might also exacerbate the issue regionally, the county mentioned.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, in the meantime, has highlighted declines in homelessness all through the state, together with Los Angeles County, this 12 months whereas calling for choose encampment removals.

In gathering its newest information, Santa Clara County used Simtech Options’ Counting Us cell app, which facilitated real-time information assortment, canvassing and interviews with greater than 1,500 folks experiencing homelessness, in accordance with the county.

The county’s new survey-first method, carried out by greater than 700 volunteers, permits for higher insights into challenges, in accordance with Kaminski.

“Folks ought to know that there’s no excellent technique to depend all people who’s experiencing homelessness,” Kaminski acknowledged. “That mentioned, we will use the data that we realized from this depend to tell our applications and our insurance policies and assist discover a technique to transfer folks from homelessness into housing, completely.”