New Regional Data Shows the Number of People Moving Off the Streets and Into Housing Has Increased, While the Number of People Falling into Homelessness Has Slowed

Report shows the high cost of housing and the lack of housing across our region continues to impact the homelessness crisis.

SAN DIEGO (DEC. 4, 2024)—-New regional data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) shows the number of homeless people moving into housing has increased while the number of people falling into homeless has decreased during the last 12 months, RTFH announced today.

Between Oct. 2023 and Sept. 2024, data shows that on average 10 people found housing for every 14 people who experienced homelessness for the first time. SEE DETAIL BELOW. A year ago, over the same period (Oct. 2022 through Sept. 2023) data showed 10 people found housing for every 16 people who experienced homelessness for the first time.

“The numbers are encouraging and are a testament to the work at all levels across the county, especially front-line staff,” RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler said. “It indicates we improved in housing more people, but we also know the system continues to be overwhelmed, serving more people who are homeless for the first time. Without a dedicated local funding source and a lot more housing across the board, we are going to continue to face challenges.” 

Mayor Todd Gloria, who attended RTFH’s third annual conference on homelessness earlier today, said: “This latest data shows that the work we’re doing is starting to turn the tide on homelessness. While the progress is encouraging, we continue to face significant challenges due to constrained housing supply, which has pushed rents sky-high. We must continue to build more housing and ensure every San Diegan has a roof over their head at a price they can afford.”

San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera also weighed in from the conference.

“San Diego can overcome our homelessness crisis, and the progress made over the past year is evidence of that.” said Council President Elo-Rivera. “The data from the past year is clear. We’ve improved in getting people who are experiencing homelessness into permanent housing, and we will see the results we all desire if we expand the prevention programs that have proven successful in keeping vulnerable people off the streets.”

RTFH began publishing monthly reports two ago that highlight how many people enter and exit homelessness each month throughout San Diego County to provide the region with a better understanding of the homelessness crisis.

An analysis of the most recent 12 months of data shows the following:

• 15,657 individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time (vs. 14,258 a year ago and 15,327 two years ago).
• 11,456 people housed/exited the system (vs. 8,843 a year ago and 11,861 two years ago).
• 48,722 people served (vs. 45,703 a year ago and 41,345 two years ago).

The reports are not broken down by municipality but instead provide a regional outlook that creates more opportunities to measure the progress of the Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Manolatos tony@manolatospa.com