Santa Cruz County sees slight decrease in homelessness compared to 2017
Santa Cruz County has released the results of its biennial Point-In-Time count, and it shows a slight decrease in the number of homeless people in the county compared to 2017.
The 2019 count found a total of 2,167 homeless people, which is a 3.6% decrease. Around one-third of the homeless people counted are employed and three-quarters were housed in Santa Cruz County before becoming homeless. Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed said they had a disability impacting their ability to live independently and about 30% said they had post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder or another psychiatric or emotional condition.
Job loss was the leading cause of homelessness. One in 10 people surveyed said a rise in rent was the cause of their homelessness; that number is more than two times higher than the last report.
The city of Santa Cruz had the highest number of homeless people at 1,197. Unincorporated Santa Cruz County had 515 and Watsonville had 370.
Chronic homelessness was reduced by one-third since 2017, but youth homelessness increased.
Since the 2017 count, the Homeless Action Partnership and its partners have started new programs and systems to improve the community’s response to homelessness.The actions include allocating $9.6 million in Homeless Emergency Aid Program funding, and those funds have been put toward establishing a year-round shelter in north and south county, as well services such as housing and medical and benefits assistance.
The Point-In-Time count uses a federal definition of homelessness, so it does not include those experiencing housing instability, including those living with family and friends or those in hotels, hospitals or jails.
To read the full report:
