SANTA CRUZ — A sneak preview of this year’s annual homeless population count released Wednesday showed a near status-quo tally, compared to a year earlier.
Compared to the all-time low recorded in February 2023’s point-in-time count and census, homelessness increased across Santa Cruz County by fewer than 50 people, a 2.6% bump, according to a Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership-funded study. The federally required count, acknowledged by homeless service providers as an undercount designed to capture a base-level count each year, tallied 1,850 in this year’s preliminary census results.
“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,” Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner was quoted in a county release. “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.”
Among significant changes reported compared to last year’s count, the number of homeless veterans counted dropped 55%, from 159 to 72. Also, young adults ages 18 to 24 without children of their own, dropped by 40%, from 334 to 199, according to preliminary results. These declines aligned with recent federal, state and local priority investments in families, youth and veterans, according to the county.
In underfunded areas, those reporting long-term substance use disorders increased by 32% and the number of people with disabilities experiencing a year or more of homelessness increased 19% from 573 to 710, according to preliminary results.
Officials expect to release the final homeless point-in-time count report by the end of July. Prior year results are available online at housingforhealthpartnership.org.