Last year, homelessness dropped to its lowest level in Sonoma County in nearly two decades. Preliminary results from this year’s annual Point-in-Time Count suggest homelessness has remained at its lowest level since 2007, even as financial challenges mount.
The Jan. 30 count identified 1,951 people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County, essentially unchanged from last year. Conducted on a single day each year, the Point-in-Time Count helps communities measure homelessness and plan housing and support services.
The survey found fewer people living outdoors, more people staying in shelters and a sharp decline in family homelessness. At the same time, youth homelessness and chronic homelessness both increased.
The results reflect years of investment in housing programs, eviction prevention and support services, said Nolan Sullivan, director of the Department of Health Services. “This is a testament to our community’s incredible efficacy, collaboration and sheer hard work in our effort to keep our neighbors inside,” he said.
Maintaining this progress may become more difficult in the months ahead. Rising housing costs, economic uncertainty and reductions in state and federal funding could threaten programs that help people remain housed or move into permanent housing.
“Considering the precariousness of the economy and the state and federal funding losses we’ve already experienced, I am heartened by the fact that this didn’t translate to more people being unsheltered in our county,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “We’re fortunate that a number of new permanent housing programs and sites opened last year that have undoubtedly contributed to keeping the number flat.”
The full PIT Count report, including city-by-city data, demographic information and additional analysis of the causes of homelessness, will be released this fall. View preliminary results HERE.
1st and foremost the ” In place Homeless Count ” that is carried out each year is incredibly flawed… and for the most part always has been …
It’s a count that starts before even daylight… it only last a few hours …. and the people tasked with the count can’t even engage those they are counting to assure they are in fact homeless … if you see a camp of 5 tents but only one person is visible that counts as only one person in the tally… and you have to do all this from 20 yards away ..
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My name is Mikael O’Toole and I’m a homeless advocate and have been since 1983 in San Francisco where I moved over 100 homeless people in to Civic Center Plaza… I have lived and struggled with the homeless on more occasions than I am able to count …. I’m as well the creator and founder of the only homeless encampment in Sonoma County that was supported by The Sonoma County Development Commission ( ie ) The County of Sonoma … ” Camp Michela ”
If we continue to discount the actual number of homeless in our communities we can never truly address this contending crisis …. and part of that equation is giving the homeless a actual voice and chair at the table…
This is proven and has always worked on addressing the issue … alcoholism/ A.A. … Drug Addiction / NA … Welfare/ train former recipients to do case work … mental health / peer counselors …. history has taught us that the answers often come from those most impacted ….
Food for thought