County homeless numbers rise

The 2019 tally of homeless residents in the county showed a 21% increase over the 1,253 homeless residents volunteers counted during the one-day effort in 2017. The 2019 figure was also higher than the number of homeless residents counted in 2015, or 1,483 individuals. It was also less than the number of homeless residents counted in 2011 and 2013, 1,861 individuals and 2,002 individuals, respectively. Required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the point-in-time effort is aimed at collecting demographic and household information as well as data on what homelessness services are needed most, according to the report.

Nicole Pollack, the county’s Human Services Agency director, said in a press release the count is one critical tool to collect information that helps officials understand more about those who are experiencing homelessness and their circumstances.

“With homelessness, as with much in life, one size does not fit all and we really want to know who we are serving and what they need,” she said in a press release.

Showing a 127% increase in the number of people living in RVs and a 24% increase in the number of people sleeping on the street, the data collected during the count also demonstrated a 16% decrease in the number of families with children experiencing unsheltered homelessness, according to the report.

Redwood City logged the highest number of homeless residents, with 221 counted Jan. 30, while Pacifica and East Palo Alto were also among the cities in the county with the highest homeless populations, with 116 homeless individuals and 107 homeless individuals recorded for the same night, respectively.

Bryan Kingston, spokesman for the Human Services Agency, said the count is one piece of data among other sources that inform the types of services county officials work to make available to those experiencing homelessness. He noted the number of people served by homeless programs and who move into permanent housing, information about those who receive outreach services and data gathered from homeless prevention services are among the other sources of information county officials weigh.

A total of 36 surveys were collected for those experiencing homelessness during the 2019 count, which were used to extrapolate the demographic characteristics for those who were not surveyed. The surveys were conducted through a mobile application giving volunteers the option to record an observation or initiate a survey, according to the report.

Having pegged ending homelessness as a priority, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors looked to data from the count to help officials tailor services to the needs of those experiencing it, said Board President Carole Groom in the release.

“We know that ending homelessness is more than a quick fix, especially because individuals experience homelessness for a variety of unique reasons,” Groom said. “With the count and surveys showing us what current factors are in play, we are better equipped to take the right steps toward solutions.”

Pollack said this year’s count demonstrates how challenging the housing market has proved to be for many community members, especially low- and moderate-income individuals struggling to maintain housing in a county where the fair market rent for a studio increased by 47% in the last three years. She noted the decrease in the number of unsheltered families with children and people sleeping in tents and cars highlights the need to continue offering services for this population.

Pollack expressed gratitude toward the 400 volunteers and organizations committed to assisting those experiencing homelessness, calling the effort a community collaboration.

“The count is a large endeavor and wouldn’t be possible without the participation of hundreds of volunteers,” she said. “We’re grateful to our community members, community-based organizations and county and city staff who participated in the count.”

anna@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 106