San Diego County Sees First Decrease in Homeless Population in Years

San Diego County reported 9,905 homeless individuals in January, reflecting the first decrease in years. The annual point-in-time count revealed an 18. 5% drop in homeless families and a 25% decline in veterans. Tamera Kohler, head of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, highlighted improvements across California, but cautioned that many still live in cars. The count identified 5,714 unsheltered individuals, a 6.

5% decrease from the previous year. Traditional shelters housed 4,191 people, a 7% drop from last January. Kohler attributed the positive trends to a slowing rental market and investments in diversion programs. Despite these improvements, the ongoing homelessness crisis remains a significant concern, with 80% of surveyed individuals reporting local housing loss.