For those who want to know how many are homeless in California in 2024, this article is for you.

The United States recorded an increasing number of homeless people with more than 320,000 living in homeless shelters.

This number excludes those who are living on the streets and in deserted places.

The country’s most populous and third-largest state by area that holds the highest number of homeless people in the country is California.

Its homeless population increased by more than 20,500 during the pandemic. This is equal to approximately one-fifth of the country’s homeless population. 

How Many Homeless in California in 2024

How many are homeless in California? Based on the latest count, there are 173,806 homeless individuals in California.

This represents an almost 13% increase in the number of California’s homeless individuals in the past 3 years.

Here is a list of the number of homeless people in California:

• In 2015, California had approximately 155,738 homeless people
• In 2017, California had approximately 134,278 homeless people
• In 2019, California had approximately 151,278 homeless people
• In 2020, California had approximately 161,548 homeless people
• In 2022, California had approximately 173,806 homeless people

Sheltered Individuals in California

The data reported by California’s local organizations revealed that the number of homeless individuals living in interim housing and longer-stay shelters increased by 33% since 2019. 

California invested in shelters, especially in creating shelter beds to accommodate the growing number of homeless individuals.

Let’s take a look at the number of sheltered individuals in California according to the report of California Continuums of Care:

• California recorded around 50,691 sheltered individuals in 2011
• California recorded around 45,554 sheltered individuals in 2013
• California recorded around 42,039 sheltered individuals in 2015
• California recorded around 42,636 sheltered individuals in 2017
• California recorded around 42,846 sheltered individuals in 2019
• California recorded around 57,239 sheltered individuals in 2022

Unsheltered Individuals in California

Similar to the increase in the number of sheltered individuals, the unsheltered people also grew in number.

They grew by approximately 7% from 2019. These unsheltered people stay in abandoned places, cars, tents, and streets. 

Below are the number of unsheltered people in California reported by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development:

• There were about 74,437 unsheltered people in California in 2011
• There were about 72,998 unsheltered people in California in 2013
• There were about 73,699 unsheltered people in California in 2015
• There were about 91,642 unsheltered people in California in 2017
• There were about 108,432 unsheltered people in California in 2019
• There were about 116,567 unsheltered people in California in 2022

What Age Groups are Most Homeless in California?

Homeless people in California are mostly single adults aged 25 years and above. They are about 77% of the total homeless population in California.

While people in families with children are 14%, and unaccompanied and parenting youth aged 24 years and below are 9%.

Approximately 45% of homeless people in adult-only households in California are aged 50 years and above.

Most of this age group have underlying health conditions, disabilities, and challenges in acquiring support and social safety net programs.

Roughly 97% of homeless youth below 25 years old stay outside the homeless shelters in Marin County.

Most of them are neglected and have toxic family dynamics. They are usually male, transgender, and gender nonconforming.

In 2020, there were around 11,401 homeless veterans in California, 51,785 homeless people with chronic homelessness, 8,030 homeless families with children, and 12,172 homeless unaccompanied and parenting young adults.

Regions in California with the Highest Shares of Homeless People

Homelessness is present in every county in California. This statewide concern continuously grew.

In the 2020 report, Los Angeles County had the most number of homeless people in the state with 41.1%.

Here are some of the regions in California with homeless people in 2020:

1. Los Angeles and South Coast Region is home to 51.3% of homeless people in California
2. San Francisco Bay Area is home to 21.7% of homeless people in California
3. Central Valley is home to 7.4% of homeless people in California
4. Sacramento Region is home to 5.1% of homeless people in California
5. Central Coast is home to 5.1% of homeless people in California
6. Inland Empire is home to 4.7% of homeless people in California
7. Far North is home to 4.1% of homeless people in California
8. Sierra Nevada is home to 0.6% of homeless people in California

Reasons for Homelessness in California

According to a study, economically challenged people do not have the means to pay for their necessities including house rentals, food, education, healthcare, and childcare.

They are mostly homeless people without jobs or with extremely low incomes.

Here are some of the reasons why there is a growing number of homeless individuals in California:

• Lack of affordable housing
• Deinstitutionalization
• Drug addiction
• Mental health issues
• Inadequate shelter spaces
• Changes in the criminal justice system
• Racist practices
• Poverty

Solutions to Homelessness in California

Here are some of the solutions to address homelessness in California according to the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council:

• Support rehousing services
• Develop a permanent supportive housing program
• Start a homelessness prevention program
• Improve housing affordability
• Provide rental assistance to people with extremely low incomes
• More shelter capacity
• Coordinate an effective crisis response
• Capacity building
• Increase treatment facilities for people who suffer from mental problems, domestic abuse, and drug addiction

Conclusion

Most of the homeless people in California have experienced short-term homelessness. These people have extremely low incomes.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), about 68% of California’s total homeless population has experienced short-term homelessness.

While 32% have experienced chronic homelessness. 

These people have long-standing disabilities or serious health conditions that hinder their ability to live independently and have been homeless for consecutive years.

Thanks for reading our article on how many homeless in California in 2024.

Sources