San Jose Homeless Population Numbers Largely Unchanged From Two Years Ago

San Jose's homeless count reached 6,503, a minor increase from 6,266 in 2023, indicating a stagnation in addressing the crisis. Santa Clara County experienced an 8. 2% rise in homelessness, while San Francisco's numbers also rose by 7% to 8,328. Notably, San Jose reported that 2,544 individuals were in shelters during the latest count, a significant rise from 980 prior to the pandemic in 2019. Mayor Matt Mahan expressed the need for state support to create more shelter beds, underscoring the city's focus on reducing encampments.

This data comes alongside an in-depth investigation into Los Angeles's homelessness epidemic, which has worsened due to long-standing housing affordability problems. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie recently adjusted his commitment to adding new shelter beds, now prioritizing specialized beds for mental health and substance abuse treatment. The next point-in-time counts for San Francisco and Oakland will occur in January 2026, aiming to provide updated insights into the ongoing crisis. The challenges faced in San Jose and San Francisco reflect broader regional issues with homelessness across the Bay Area.