California governor Gavin Newsom announced that he is creating a task force meant to aid cities and countries struggling with an increase in homelessness. Local counties in the Bay Area have seen a 43 percent increase in their homeless population and now they could be seeing some relief. Jodi Hernandez reports.
There were at least 2,295 homeless residents of Contra Costa County one day in January and most of them are unsheltered, according to data from Contra Costa Health Services' 2019 Point in Time count.
Each year volunteers and county staff canvas known encampments and other areas frequented by the homeless community over a 24-hour period to conduct surveys and gather information for planning purposes.
This year the homeless population grew slightly, by about 3%, but since 2017, the number is up 43%, the same as in Alameda County.
Homelessness in San Francisco jumped 17% from 2017. In San Jose, homelessness was up 42% since 2017 and in Santa Clara County 31%.
There were 1,627 unsheltered homeless in Contra Costa County on Jan. 29. Roughly 60% of them were sleeping in encampments, in parks or on sidewalks. Just over 30% were living in vehicles.
Roughly 10% of the unsheltered homeless had gone either to a warming shelter or sought refuge in an abandoned building, attic or garage.
Almost all of them were single adults. Three percent or 37 were families experiencing homelessness together.
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Of the 668 sheltered homeless counted on Jan. 29, 11% or 62 of them were families. The county's limited shelter space can accommodate roughly 63% of the homeless families in Contra Costa, but for single adults there is a vast unmet need.
Only 28% of them can be served with the county's existing inventory of shelter beds.
The number of homeless veterans has increased 14% over last year's count to 114, although the number of homeless seniors 62 and older decreased 18% to 161.
Geographically, Contra Costa County's homeless population is evenly distributed, with 32% in west county, 38% in central county and 30% in east county.
The county has prepared a two-page flyer with this information and more available here. They're planning to release a more detailed report in June.
