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.
If you have any questions Alameda County’s Point In Time Count, please reach out to Katie Haverly at khaverly@everyonehome.org.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Households experiencing homelessness in 2022
Persons experiencing homelessnes in 2022
Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in the County
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.
2019 Alameda County Homeless Count Reports
2017 Alameda County Executive Summary, State of Homelessness, and Homeless Count Report
2019 Alameda County Homeless Count Reports
2004-2015 Alameda County Homeless Count Reports
2019 Alameda County Homeless Count Reports
Coverage of 2019 Point-in-Time Count:
SF Chronicle: Letter to the Editor: Look to the real cause of homelessness
KQED: Elaine de Coligny, Executive Director if EveryOne Home discusses the point-in-time data and why it matters.
KQED: Oakland homelessness increases 47% in two years
KTVU: Latest numbers show homelessness up 47% in Alameda County
KPIX: Report: Oakland is home to over half of Alameda County’s rising homeless population
The Mercury News: Oakland’s homeless population grows 47 percent in 2 years
KTVU: Latest numbers show homelessness up 47% in Alameda County
Mercury News: ‘It’s definitely not getting better:’Homelessness up 43 percent in Alameda County
KQED: Mayor Homeless Spikes Reported in San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara Counties
KTUV: Volunteers fan out to count homeless in Alameda County
SF Chronicle: Counting homeless people in Oakland
The Mercury News: Volunteers take stock of Bay Area’s crisis in biennial homeless count
Coverage of 2017 Point-in-Time Count:
ABC7News: Countywide survey finds record number of homeless living in Alameda County
KTVU: Count Indicates Alameda County homelessness increased 40% in 2 Years KTVU: Oakland Homeless Count: Analysis
SFGATE: Survey finds surge in homelessness in Oakland, Alameda County
EastBayExpress: New Data Shows Significant Rise in Homelessness in Alameda County
KQED:Alameda County’s Homeless Count Shows Much Higher Numbers than Previous Thought
TheDailyCalifornian: Berkeley’s Homeless Population Nears 1,000 During “Homeless Shelter Crisis”
East Bay Times: Survey Confirms Oakland Homeless Crisis Growing Worse
