22% Increase in County Homelessness Since 2019

Approximately 9,747 people in Alameda County were identified as homeless earlier this year, according to data released this past Monday. The findings are part of a federal-mandated biennial count of the unhoused.

While the number shows a 22 percent jump in homelessness since 2019, county health officials and homeless advocacy groups say the numbers could have been much worse. On February 22, 2022, a coalition of Alameda County agencies and jurisdictions along with staff from the county, various cities, and members of the community conducted its PIT (Point in Time) Count. Small teams canvased neighborhoods, business zones, and known homeless camps to get the data.

“This count reflects the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was delayed a year and a lot of measures and one-time funding came in from the Federal and State governments that focused on keeping people housed, but still, both sheltered and unsheltered populations have increased. Alameda County has a plan to alleviate homelessness, and now is the time to provide resources for the plan through long-term investment in housing for our very low-income citizens” said Moe Wright, Chair of the Leadership Board of EveryOne Home.

Every two years, the county has conducted its homeless count and survey as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The goal is to understand the ongoing shortage of affordable housing and services and adjust as needed. The survey was not conducted in 2021 due to COVID-19 considerations.

Of the 9,747 people experiencing homelessness countywide, the Point in Time data shows 2,612 of those counted were living in temporary shelter conditions such as a hotel or with a friend while 7,135 were counted as unsheltered.

Of those unsheltered, the County found a 39 percent increase in occupied vehicles (3,918 people total were found living in vehicles, 2318 in cars or vans, and 1,600 in RVs). There was a 53 percent increase in individuals enrolled in shelter programs since 2019 (902 people) because of Federal, State, and local resources for temporary shelters for COVID safety precautions and an influx of additional shelter accommodations. Traditional congregate shelters continue to operate at reduced capacity, with several hundred beds offline due to COVID safety measures.

Closer to home, 419 people were found to be living unsheltered with 91 living in a shelter in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, etc) while 312 people were living unsheltered with 97 finding temporary housing in San Leandro.

"For me, each number in the 2022 Point in Time Count represents a person, their story, and the needed social services that enable them to thrive in our community,” said San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter. “My emotions are pulled by the number of residents that do not have permanent housing. That said, I am confident my City Council colleagues and City staff are making strides to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.”

While there was an increase in homelessness, Alameda County previously experienced a 20 percent increase in homelessness each year. This shows a marked slow-down since 2019.

“We know how to solve homelessness,” said Tomiquia Moss, founder, and CEO of All Home, a regional organization dedicated to ending homelessness and housing insecurity for people with extremely low incomes. “Programs like Roomkey and Homekey, as well as eviction moratoria and emergency rental assistance programs, have changed the game, and there’s no going back—it’s time to lean in, finish the job, and end the suffering on our streets.”

Moss and other organizers say they hope the Point in Time count will convince state and federal leaders to continue these assistance programs. Currently, Alameda County receives more than $41 million in HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) funding, a key source of funding for the county’s permanent housing and services for the homeless.

The county said it expects to release geographic and demographic data later in mid-July. Those survey results are expected to shed light on the reasons for homelessness including health conditions, residency before homelessness, employment status, and what people say could have prevented their homelessness.