2024 PIT Count

• 2024 PIT Count Executive Summary(PDF, 2MB)
• 2024 PIT Count Full Report(PDF, 4MB)

2024 PIT Count Reveals Positive Trend in the City of Santa Cruz’s Efforts to Combat Homelessness (City of Santa Cruz, July 19, 2024)

Santa Cruz, CA – The recently conducted 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an annual census of individuals experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, shows significant progress in addressing homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz.

According to the data obtained from the 2024 PIT Count, there has been an 36% percent decrease in the overall count of individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz. These results mark a concerted effort to address the structural factors contributing to homelessness in the region, including increased housing-focused services and strategic investments by the City.

The PIT Count is an annual census conducted to measure the prevalence of homelessness in each community and collects information on individuals and families in emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as people sleeping on the streets, in cars, abandoned properties, or other places not meant for human habitation. The data is shared with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides valuable data for policymakers, service providers, and advocates to assess the scope of homelessness and allocate resources effectively.

The breakdown of the PIT Count reveals several key insights:

• Sheltered Count: The number of individuals sleeping in emergency shelters has decreased by 1% (from 279 to 275 people compared to the previous year). There is still work to be done, as the number of people who still need housing and services still outpaces the current resources that are available within the City or County.
  
  
• Unsheltered Count Decline: The count of individuals sleeping in places not meant for human habitation has seen a notable 49% reduction (from 749 to 384 people compared to the previous year). This reflects significant progress in providing adequate emergency shelter capacity and permanent housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness.
  
  
• Place of Residence at the time they lost their housing: 86% of survey respondents say that they were living in Santa Cruz County when they lost their housing, dispelling a common misconception that people are traveling to Santa Cruz once they become homeless.
  
  
• Primary Condition that lead to homelessness: 36% of survey respondents said that losing their job was the primary source of their homelessness. 29% said that eviction was the primary source. Housing prices and a lack of available affordable housing units are key drivers for homelessness locally and further progress is contingent on our firm commitment to changing this.

The City of Santa Cruz, in collaboration with Santa Cruz County and many community partner agencies, have implemented a range of strategies to address homelessness, focusing on long-term solutions that tackle the root causes of the issue. These efforts include:

• Emergency Shelter Capacity: 165 new shelter beds have been added in the last two years, City Overlook and 1220 River Street Transitional Community Camp providing safe and secure accommodations for those experiencing homelessness with wrap around services and case management.
  
  
• Severe Weather Shelter: 15 nights of severe weather shelter provided in 2024.
  
  
• Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing: City, non-profit, and private developers are working on over 3,500 housing units currently in the pipeline, with over 1,100 of those being affordable housing units and with 300 of the over 1,100 affordable units being permanent supportive housing units that include vital social support services to help residents stabilize and rebuild their lives.
  
  
• RV Safe Parking Program: Approximately 45 RV safe parking spots have been created through the City’s long-term and overnight safe parking programs that provide a safe place for RVs to park and on-site hygiene services.
  
  
• Collaborative Approach: The City and County have fostered partnerships with various agencies, including nonprofit service partners, healthcare agencies, law enforcement and public safety agencies, and Health & Human Services, to ensure coordinated efforts in connecting individuals to emergency shelter, permanent housing and social support services.
  
  
• Pursuing State and Federal Resources: The City and County have actively sought funding opportunities made available by the State of California and Federal Government. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of investing in programs that provide that offer comprehensive service. The City of Santa Cruz was recently awarded a $4 million grant from the State of California’s Encampment Resolution Fund. The Grant will: add 20 interim housing units on the Housing Matters campus, provide additional outreach, service coordination, and housing navigation, and support people living in encampments move to more stable housing.

“The success of these initiatives reflects a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz. While challenges persist, the data from the 2024 PIT Count demonstrate tangible progress and offer hope for continued improvement in the years to come,” said Mayor Fred Keeley.

The findings of the 2024 PIT Count underscore the progress made in addressing homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges that remain. By continuing to prioritize the development of permanent housing solutions and collaborative service delivery, the City and County are committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive community for all residents.

A complete report detailing demographic information and other key indicators will be made available on the City of Santa Cruz’s Homelessness Response website and the County of Santa Cruz’s Housing for Health website.

Housing for Health Partnership Reports Sustained Progress in 2024 Point-In-Time-Count (Santa Cruz County, July 19, 2024)

The Housing for Health Partnership (H4HP) is pleased to announce the complete 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count is now available.

As previously announced, the 2024 PIT Count shows Santa Cruz County maintained progress in reducing the impacts of homelessness on individuals and the community. The number of people experiencing homelessness is 1,850, a 2.6 percent increase from the prior year when the count showed the lowest number of persons experiencing homelessness ever recorded.

"This data demonstrates the effectiveness of local investments and strategies, including the Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz County framework, in contributing to sustainable reductions in homelessness,” Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner said. “While the overall numbers remain essentially unchanged, the full report demonstrates that our community still has challenges ahead of us in addressing this issue.”

Inconsistent State funding to address homelessness and the spiraling cost of housing threatens progress in managing homelessness locally. According to a recent study, Santa Cruz County is not only the least affordable rental market in the nation, but housing costs are 20 percent higher than the next least affordable market. The lack of affordable housing and housing in general make it extraordinarily difficult to find safe, suitable homes for everyone.

At present, 86 percent of the population lived in Santa Cruz County at the time they became homeless, and 30 percent are experiencing homelessness for the first time. A new addition to the report includes more detail on where those surveyed sleep, with 35 percent sleeping outside and 27 percent in shelters.

The top causes reported by individuals for homelessness was job loss, at 36 percent, followed by eviction, which affects 29 percent. Additionally, 26 percent of the homeless population are employed, and 45 percent believe that employment assistance is the most effective way to prevent housing loss.

The issue of homelessness is impacting a wide range of populations in our county. Between 2023 and 2024, the percentage of Latinos experiencing homelessness increased to 29 percent, while homelessness among seniors grew by seven percent. These increases are in line with national and statewide trends. Homelessness is also affecting those with physical and mental challenges, with 55 percent of the homeless population reporting a disabling condition and 46 percent having a substance use disorder.

The report also indicates significant decreases in homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz. These decreases were the result of investments and a pro-housing approach to addressing the affordable housing issue. The data showed increases in other jurisdictions, including the unincorporated area.

The Housing for Health Partnership, the County coalition of local jurisdictions and key service providers, remains committed to working collaboratively with community partners to develop sustainable solutions and create healthy living situations for all County residents, including through the Housing for a Health Santa Cruz County plan.

The full report of the 2024 PIT Count can be viewed on the Housing for Health Partnership website.

Preliminary 2024 Point-In-Tim Count Reveals Sustained Progress and Areas of Concern (Santa Cruz County, June 2024)

• 2024 PIT Count Data on Persons Experiencing Homelessness
• HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations

Preliminary results from the 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count show Santa Cruz County was able to maintain progress from the 2023 PIT Count in reducing the impacts of homelessness on individuals and the community.

The annual PIT Count is an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single day and offers valuable insights into the current state of homelessness within Santa Cruz County. The overall number of people experiencing homelessness remained essentially unchanged between 2023 and 2024, with a slight 2.6 percent increase to 1,850.

The relatively similar numbers between the two years indicate local investments and strategies, including the Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz County framework, are contributing to sustainable drops in homelessness.

“Last year’s numbers were the lowest ever recorded in Santa Cruz County, so it was gratifying to see that work validated in this year’s count,” Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner said. “However, we have a long way to go before we can claim success, and there are many challenges ahead including the anticipated loss of critical State funding.”

Preliminary data highlights areas of progress and challenges with specific populations. Proposed cuts to State funding in the areas of housing and homelessness will make it difficult to sustain local progress in future years.

Key takeaways from 2024 preliminary PIT Count numbers include:

• The number of families experiencing homelessness declined from 76 to 52, with only 4 unsheltered families identified.
• Youth, 18 – 24 year-olds, without children in their household declined 40%, from 334 to 199.
• There was a 5% reduction in homelessness among children under 18.
• There was a 55% decline in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness, from 159 to 72.

Federal, State, and local prioritized investments, policies, programs, and housing resources for families, youth, and veterans contribute to the progress seen by these populations. However, a lack of similar focused commitments with other groups contributed to increased levels of homelessness.

• There was a 7% increase in homelessness among seniors, those aged 55 and over, mirroring national and statewide trends.
• The number of people with disabilities experiencing a year or more of homelessness increased 19% from 573 to 710.
• The number of people reporting severe mental illness increased by 5%, while those reporting long-term substance use disorders increased by 32%.

Conducted at the end of January 2024, the PIT Count undercounts the total number of people experiencing homelessness throughout the year and excludes those who are in institutions and other populations, including those staying with family or friends. However, consistent methodologies allow useful year-to-year comparisons over time within a given geographic area.

The final PIT Count report is expected to be released by the end of July. The full report will provide a more comprehensive analysis and serve as a foundation for informed decision-making and targeted interventions in our ongoing efforts to ensure all County residents have a stable, safe, and healthy place to live.

The Housing for Health Partnership remains committed to working collaboratively with our community partners to establish sustainable solutions and healthy living situations for all County residents.

Thank You to Our 2024 Volunteers

Thank you to the 122 community members and stakeholders who volunteered for the Point-in-Time Count on Thursday, Jan. 25. The PIT Count provides critical data used to understand homelessness locally and support strategic decisions about our programs. Your help and support in conducting the PIT Count was very much appreciated.

About the Point-In-Time Count

Every two years, during the last 10 days of January, communities across the country conduct comprehensive counts of the local homeless populations in order to measure the prevalence of homelessness in each local Continuum of Care (Due to COVID-19, a PIT count was not taken in 2021).

Point-in-Time Counts are a measure of the number of homeless people on a specific day. The PIT is considered a "snapshot" of the homeless population. Below are the results for Santa Cruz County.

1000 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 | Phone: 831-454-7312 | Email: housingforhealth@santacruzcounty.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Jason Hoppin, 831-454-3401, Jason.Hoppin@santacruzcounty.us

2023 PIT Count

2023 Point-in-time Count Shows Positive Trends (Santa Cruz County, 2023)

• 2023 Executive Summary(PDF, 96KB)
• 2023 Full Report(PDF, 24MB)

Disparities emerge; housing costs continuing obstacle in resolving homelessness The Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership is pleased to announce the results of the 2023 Point-in-Time Census (PIT Count), showing a 21.5 percent decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

“While the numbers show the lowest levels of homelessness since the PIT Count was first conducted and reflects our efforts to prioritize housing, we still have a long way to go,” said Robert Ratner, director of the Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Division.“ Addressing homelessness in Santa Cruz County requires long-term, systemic change, but we are heading in the right direction.”

The federally designated PIT Count provides a snapshot of homelessness in communities throughout the U.S. The Santa Cruz County count was conducted under challenging winter conditions, and officials cautioned that despite improvements, 1 in every 146 Santa Cruz County residents still do not have access to housing.

Conducted on February 23, 2023, the PIT Count shows 79 percent of people experiencing homelessness at that time were unsheltered. Of those, nearly half slept in vehicles. Sixty-five percent of families experiencing homelessness had shelter, but nearly all unaccompanied minors and transition-age youth (adults less than 24 years old) were living on the streets.

Local homelessness disproportionately impacts persons of color, with 44 percent of those surveyed identifying as Hispanic or Latino, while homelessness among other races was also higher than the general population. More than two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness were male. Three in ten had some form of employment. Of the unemployed, more than half are looking for work. Nearly a quarter have been in the foster care system.

All local cities saw declines in the number of people experiencing homelessness except Watsonville, which saw a 15 percent increase. Unfortunately, the number of homeless families with children increased, as did the numbers of K-12 students experiencing homelessness.

Seventy-five percent were County residents when they became homeless. Nearly half reported substance abuse issues, while more than one-third reported psychiatric/emotional conditions or post-traumatic stress disorder. One-third have a physical disability.

The Housing for Health Partnership is committed to moving as many formerly homeless individuals into housing as possible. Following the closure of the COVID-19 sheltering system – the largest and longest sheltering operation in County history – the County and partners, including the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County, have moved more than 600 individuals into permanent supportive housing.

Furthermore, the County is working with community partners to secure Project Homekey and other grants to increase the community’s capacity to provide housing and other residential options for formerly homeless individuals and families. Those grants include a recent $10.1 million Behavioral Health Bridge Housing award to build a 34-unit housing development to serve homeless adults with behavioral health challenges, as well as a partnership with the County of Monterey and the City of Watsonville to safely move individuals out of the Pajaro River channel and into housing.

The County is also committed to improving behavioral health services and will soon have access to 100 new supportive units through projects already underway, and is building a new Children’s Crisis Stabilization Center to provide 24 crisis stabilization and long-term care beds for youth. With Santa Cruz County now the least affordable rental market in the U.S. and studies showing homelessness spikes wherever housing prices outpace incomes, the Housing for Health Division also supports structural change in the form of policies to help develop additional housing opportunities for residents, such as the County’s Sustainability Update and Housing Element. For a full version of the report, visit https://housingforhealthpartnership.org.

The Housing for Health Partnership is a collaboration of the County and each city within Santa Cruz County, along with local homelessness service providers. It acts as the federally-designated continuum of care for Santa Cruz County and helps allocate State and federal funding to address homelessness. The County of Santa Cruz serves as lead agency for the H4H Partnership. Visit the Housing for Health Partnership online, on Facebook or on Instagram.

1000 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 | Phone: 831-454-7312 | Email: housingforhealth@santacruzcounty.us for FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Jason Hoppin, 831-454-3401, Jason.Hoppin@santacruzcounty.us

2022 PIT Count

Point-in-time Census Shows Progress Among Vulnerable Groups, Slight Overall Increase

• 2022 Executive Summary(PDF, 2MB)
• 2022 Full Report(PDF, 2MB)

Housing scarcity, cost significant obstacles to resolving homelessness Santa Cruz County’s biannual Point-In-Time Count provides an overview of homelessness over time in Santa Cruz County. The Count results in a conservative estimate of the numbers of people and households experiencing homelessness on a single night and also provides demographic, health, economic, housing, and other information about those in our community currently living without a stable home. The 2022 PIT Count demonstrates progress in addressing family and youth homelessness locally.

Compared with 2019 data, the 2022 data shows a 59 percent decrease in overall homelessness among families and a 94 percent decrease in unsheltered homelessness among families. Significant resource investments and collaborations focused on serving these populations coupled with more community support and private-market housing options for these groups likely contributed to these declines.

Overall, the 2022 PIT Count results show a small 6 percent increase in the numbers of people living without a home in Santa Cruz County since 2019, the last year the PIT Count was conducted. The data shows an estimated 2,299 people experienced homelessness at the time of the count, including 1,774 who were unsheltered. However, the 2022 count data shows statistically significant increases in the numbers of people experiencing homelessness who self-report substance use disorders (1,073) and serious mental illness (818).

Furthermore, the numbers of veterans experiencing homelessness more than doubled from 2019. Resource and eligibility limitations for serving these populations, limited housing-focused outreach, stigma associated with behavioral health conditions, and closures or reductions in residential capacity during the pandemic may have contributed to these increases. Behavioral health treatment efficacy is limited when people do not have stable living environments. Deeper and sustained investments, cross-system collaboration, and community support for serving these populations are needed to shift these trends.

“The 2022 PIT Count shows significant progress in addressing homelessness among families and youth,” said Robert Ratner, director of the County of Santa Cruz Housing for Health Division. “However, there have been significant increases in homelessness among seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. The lack of affordable housing remains the biggest barrier to preventing and ending homelessness in the community. We have more work to do to meet the objectives set forth in our Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz shared framework to ensure all residents have stable, safe, and healthy places to live.”

Inadequate local housing supply and related high housing costs, especially for renters, continue to be both a significant contributor to homelessness and an inhibitor to reducing the numbers of persons experiencing homelessness. Current data shows that just 65 percent of homeless individuals with subsidized housing vouchers have been able to find a home, and Santa Cruz County overall remains behind on capacity targets for housing in key areas, including very low-income affordable housing.

A recent report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition ranks Santa Cruz County as the second most expensive rental market in the country and the least affordable for average local renters. Through Project Homekey and other efforts, the County and local cities are pursuing additional options to increase housing affordability. In the Bay Area, homelessness is up 9 percent. This includes San Francisco (down 3.5 percent), Santa Clara County (up 3 percent), Alameda County (up 22 percent), Contra Costa County (up 35 percent) and others. Homelessness in Monterey County declined 15.5 percent and in San Benito increased 21 percent since the most recent PIT Count.

PIT Count methodology is known to undercount the number of people experiencing homelessness and excludes people experiencing homelessness staying in institutional settings, those in temporary situations, and those living in unsafe or overcrowded spaces. The count likely undercounts unsheltered people on a single night due to challenges locating people in hidden areas or situations.

On Tuesday, Director Ratner will present a high-level summary of the PIT Count to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors during its regularly scheduled meeting. Once available, the full Point-in-Time Count report will be posted on the Housing for Health Partnership website, at https://housingforhealthpartnership.org/.

The Housing for Health Partnership is a collaboration of the County and each city within Santa Cruz County, along with local homelessness service providers. It acts as the federally-designated continuum of care for Santa Cruz County and helps allocate State and federal funding to address homelessness. The County of Santa Cruz serves as lead agency for the H4H Partnership.

1000 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 | Phone: 831-454-7312 | Email: housingforhealth@santacruzcounty.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Jason Hoppin, 831-454-3401, Jason.Hoppin@santacruzcounty.us