San Diego Reports 13% Drop in Homeless

May 28, 2025

For the first time in five years, San Diego County has experienced a significant 7% reduction in homelessness, with the City of San Diego showing the largest decrease at 13. 5%. These findings come from the January Point in Time Count conducted by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, where volunteers physically count and survey homeless individuals to provide data for policymakers.

Who is affected

Homeless individuals across San Diego County
Specific vulnerable populations including veterans, women, families, LGBTQ youth, older adults
People struggling with behavioral and substance abuse issues
Individuals living in vehicles
San Diego residents facing housing affordability challenges

What action is being taken

The City of San Diego is investing $315.9 million in homeless services and solutions
Officials are implementing diverse shelter options to meet needs of various homeless populations
The Safe Parking Program is providing designated overnight parking lots for people living in vehicles
Safe sleeping sites are offering legal camping with meals, showers, restrooms, and housing navigation services
The City is increasing the rate of new home permits, having permitted nearly 9,700 new homes in 2023

Why it matters

This represents the first significant decline in homelessness in five years for the region
Despite progress, more people are still becoming homeless than finding permanent housing
The high cost of living remains the primary contributor to homelessness according to experts
The data helps provide a snapshot of the homelessness crisis to leaders and policymakers
Specific vulnerable populations are seeing substantial improvements with targeted programs

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint