|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Contra Costa County saw a 7% increase from 2025 in people experiencing homelessness for a total of 2,260, according to an annual survey released Wednesday by the county.
On Jan. 29, 188 volunteers conducted the Point-in-Time Count across the county, accounting for people living outdoors and in vehicles, emergency shelters and transitional housing.
Of the 2,260 total individuals, 1,312 were unsheltered and 948 were staying in transitional housing or shelter beds, according to the Point-in-Time Count report from the county’s Health, Housing and Homeless Services Division, or H3. Additionally, the two largest racial categories among homeless people were white at 38% and Black at 33%.
Compared to the 2025 report, this year’s survey counted 142 more homeless people in the county. However, this is still well below 2024 levels, with 583 fewer people experiencing homelessness overall.
In this year’s report, 54% of the individuals surveyed were identified as chronically homeless, 85% of their households reported having at least one disabling condition, and 75% of respondents have lived in Contra Costa County for more than 10 years.
The report also said this year also saw an increase of 108 in sheltered individuals, reflecting the benefits of expanding housing resources in the county. Contra Costa Health worked to increase temporary and permanent housing bed capacity up 24% over the last two years.
“This year’s Point-in-Time Count underscores both the scale and complexity of homelessness in Contra Costa,” said H3 Director Christy Saxton in a news release. “We continue working closely with community partners to expand housing opportunities, increase access to services, and support people experiencing homelessness throughout the county.”
These reports help to determine federal and state funding allocations, inform local homelessness efforts and the county better understand trends and needs. The full Point-in-Time report can be found on Contra Costa Health’s website at https://www.cchealth.org/home/showpublisheddocument/33090.
— Story by Kelcie Lee, Bay City News
