By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters
Homelessness continues to be a serious concern in California, however some locations are reporting decreases of their populations.
Santa Cruz County is the newest: It counted 1,473 individuals this yr, down 20% from 2024. However regardless of that signal of progress, the variety of “chronically homeless” individuals elevated — suggesting the county nonetheless struggles to accommodate that high-needs inhabitants. That class refers to individuals who have been homeless a yr or extra and have a incapacity.
Homelessness dropped 4% in Los Angeles County from final yr, marking the second yr in a row the county noticed a decline. Contra Costa County noticed a 26% lower. Santa Clara County, in the meantime, noticed an 8% enhance from 2023 (Santa Clara County counts each different yr).
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These numbers come from “point-in-time” counts carried out firstly of the yr. Outcomes have been rolling in all summer season. Consultants warning that these counts are estimates, at finest, and certain undercount homeless populations.
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