Nearly 9,000 people are homeless in San Diego County according to numbers released Friday by The Regional Task Force on the Homeless (RTFH).
Among those living on the street, more than 70 percent said they became homeless while residing in San Diego.
Results show that 8,692 people were living on the streets or in shelters. This reflects a slight decrease from last year’s numbers.
The information indicates an 18.9 percent increase in the number of unsheltered homeless people from last year. Tents and hand built structures increased by 69 percent, region-wide.
There was a 16.2 percent decrease in veteran homelessness, a 12.6 percent decrease in unsheltered homeless families and a 13 percent decrease in unsheltered chronic homelessness.
The information gathered by this yearly count, also called WeAllCount, is vital when identifying strategies and services to alleviate homelessness, according to representatives at RTFH. The 2016 Summary of WeAllCount results can be found on the Regional Task Force on the Homeless website.
"Communities around the country who are declaring an end to homelessness are doing so with a focus on real solutions like Housing First and permanent supportive housing," said San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria, who chairs the Regional Continuum of Care Council.
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Dolores Diaz, Executive Director of the Regional Task Force the Homeless, said it was a record-breaking year in terms community engagement with 1,676 volunteers participating at the 73 count and survey sites throughout San Diego County.
RTFH conducted the annual Point-in-Time count during early morning hours on January 29. More than 1,600 volunteers came together to collect information by interviewing homeless individuals throughout the county.
The next Point-in Time count is scheduled to take place on January 27, 2017. Coordinators expect that hundreds of volunteers will gather again to canvas the County, providing information about the homeless population.
