Point-in-time counts show varied homelessness trends across California. Santa Cruz County counted 1,473 people this year, a 20% decrease from 2024, but chronic homelessness there increased, signaling continued difficulty housing people with disabilities who have been unhoused a year or more. Los Angeles County saw a 4% drop for the second consecutive year, and Contra Costa County reported a 26% decrease, while Santa Clara County recorded an 8% increase from 2023. Experts warn point-in-time counts likely undercount homeless populations. State leaders credit investments for decreases, while counties criticize reliance on one-time grants that hinder long-term program development.
Homelessness continues to be a major issue in California, but some places are reporting decreases in their populations. Santa Cruz County is the latest: It counted 1,473 people this year, down 20% from 2024. But despite that sign of progress, the number of chronically homeless people increased suggesting the county still struggles to house that high-needs population. That category refers to people who have been homeless a year or more and have a disability.
But the California State Association of Counties was just as quick to accuse Newsom of derailing that progress by slashing state funding in upcoming budget cycles. Though Newsom has poured money into the homelessness crisis, it's been in one-time grants instead of ongoing funding, which counties complain makes it difficult to build the types of long-term programs that will create meaningful change for the state's more than 187,000 unhoused people.
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