POINT-IN-TIME COUNT

9,747 people in Alameda County were residing in shelters, transitional housing, safe havens, vehicles, tents, abandoned buildings and other places not intended for habitation on February 22, 2022, the night of the Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count). This represents an increase of 22% (1,725 people) since 2019. Overall, 16% of this population cited COVID-19 as one of the causes of their homelessness.

Full information available and linked here includes:

SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS

(1)  Finding: Survey responses indicated that the causes of homelessness and what could have prevented their homelessness largely point to economic drivers and impacts.
 
  • Eviction/foreclosure/rent increase, job loss, and other money challenges were listed as three of the top five reasons individuals became homeless.
  • Similarly, economic solutions were three of the top four supports that people cited could have prevented their homelessness.
  • Economic factors are also highlighted in employment status: 18% reported being employed and 36% reported they were looking for work.
 
(2)  Finding: Alameda County had a 39% increase in the number of people living in vehicles since 2019.
 
  • This increase was likely affected by less ability to “double up” with family/friends due to COVID isolation and quarantine needs as well as job loss and other economic drivers that forced individuals and families to move into their vehicles.
(3)  Finding: Survey responses indicated the increased complexity in health conditions among people with at least one disabling condition since 2019. 
 

The proportion of people experiencing homelessness with at least one disabling condition is 40%. However, those with a disabling condition are reporting more health challenges, including increases of 12 percentage points in those experiencing PTSD, 10 points in psychological/emotional conditions, nine points in those reporting a physical disability, and an eight-point increase in those experiencing chronic health conditions.

Since reporting initial PIT Count data in March, equity and homeless system investment strategies in the Home Together 2026 Community Plan have led to increased funding including nearly $140 million in interim housing, permanent housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
 
EveryOne HomeAlameda County’s Health Care Services Agency Office of Homeless Care and Coordination, and Housing and Community Development Department offer an enormous thank you to the 1,517 people experiencing homelessness across the County who shared their wealth of first-hand personal information and everyone who joined in the Count effort this year amid COVID constraints. We are pleased to make available these data resources from the 2022 Alameda County Homeless Count and Survey.

CITY SPECIFIC INFOGRAPHIC REPORTS

For 2022, EveryOne Home is excited to provide city-specific Point in Time Count data reports that provide a snapshot of the trends in homelessness. Please see the infographic reports for each city in Alameda County below. 

PURPOSE of the Point in Time Homeless Count:

Every two years, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness and provide specific data about their demographics and characteristics. This Count is a “snapshot” of homelessness (both sheltered and unsheltered) in our community and nationally. Locally, the data helps:

• Inform program, policy, funding, and system design decisions
• Measure progress in decreasing homelessness
• Increase public awareness
• Advocate for additional resources in our effort to end homelessness countywide.

On Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 Alameda County held the EveryOne Counts! Homeless Point in Time (PIT) Count. This Count includes those who are forced to sleep outdoors, in vehicles, tents or makeshift structures as well as a count of people residing in shelters, transitional housing and safe parking programs on the night of February 22nd. In the weeks following the count, a random, sample survey is also conducted with those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness to learn more about the demographics, experiences, and needs.

This year, a new interactive dashboard of Point in Time Count data is publicly available for the community to explore and learn more about homelessness in Alameda County. The dashboard includes data from the unsheltered and sheltered count as well as the survey.

This data is foundational to investing in housing and programs to the scale necessary to reduce homelessness and evaluating the impact of efforts to date. The voices of individuals experiencing homelessness gathered through this count and survey are used to inform enhancements and improvements to services and pathways to housing, and are an important look at the health, needs, history and background of our residents experiencing homelessness in Alameda County.

There also is survey data available for some select cities/jurisdictions that pursued a jurisdiction-specific Point in Time Count report. With these new data tools available, it is the hope that our community can become more informed about the size, scope and experiences of those that are unhoused in Alameda County to support the work we all must do together to end homelessness.

8,308

Households experiencing homelessness in 2022

9,747

Persons experiencing homelessnes in 2022

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in the County