2024 Point in Time Count: Fewer Unhoused, But Challenges Remain

Alameda County has slightly fewer homeless people than two years ago, and more people on the streets are seeking services. Still, much more work remains before all residents can enjoy an improved quality of life, according to a Housing and Homelessness Services report released on May 15. 

According to this year's Point-in-Time (PIT) count by Alameda County Health and the Alameda County Continuum of Care (CoC), volunteers identified 9,450 people as experiencing homelessness. This is a 3 percent decrease from the 9,747 people categorized as homeless in the 2022 count. Out of this year's total number, officials estimate that two-thirds (6,343 people) are living unsheltered, an 11 percent decrease from 2022. On a higher note, some 3,107 people were counted in various shelter projects around the county, a 19 percent increase from 2022. 

“Over the past several years, we have invested heavily and strategically in addressing the conditions that lead to systemic homelessness,” said Jonathan Russell, Director of Alameda County’s Health Housing and Homelessness Services division. “Now, we are starting to see the positive benefits of those targeted investments.” 

The unincorporated towns of Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, and Fairview saw their unhoused population decrease by 42 percent (294 individuals) with 15 percent of those counted finding temporary shelter. San Leandro saw its homeless numbers drop 31 percent (283 individuals), with 27 percent fewer people on the streets. However, according to the report, 42 percent of those unhoused in San Leandro declined shelter services.

And while the numbers are still encouraging for the middle of the county, life is still difficult for anyone unable to find permanent housing. 

Melissa Moore, an unhoused advocate and founder of Rising Into Self Empowerment (RISE), which assists people living on the streets, gives an example of a family who had to leave Castro Valley and ended up on the streets of San Leandro to live in their RV with their 7-year-old autistic son who is enrolled in the Castro Valley Unified School District and is doing well in his special needs class. 

“Now they are being told along with the rest of the residents on the street they are parked at that they have to move by June 12, and if they are not gone, they will have their RV towed that day,” Moore says. “We have no options as of now on where this family can park, and they stand to lose everything they own, and the son will be again traumatized by this action. Autistic children do not do well with constant upheaval, and it causes major setbacks in many different ways. We need to find a spot in Castro Valley for them to park and not worry about moving or being towed.” 

Preliminary analysis also indicates that throughout the county, unsheltered homelessness dropped significantly compared to two years ago for veterans (355 individuals—a 35 percent drop), young people under 25 (428 individuals —a 51 percent decrease), and families (699 people in families—a 17 percent decrease). 

While Alameda County's overall homeless population has dropped, the largest city in the county, Oakland, saw its homelessness increase 9 percent (5,490 individuals) over the last two years. Hayward's unsheltered population increased by 30 percent over the past two years (495 individuals).

Every two years, the county is federally required to count individuals and families sleeping outside in vehicles, emergency shelters, and transitional housing. The results inform funding and policy decisions across the homelessness system of care. Officials say the nearly 1,300 volunteers who canvassed the county on January 25 and new survey questionnaires can help support existing and new programs to prevent homelessness and serve those without permanent housing. 

The full results from this year's Point-in-Time count are expected later this summer.