Increase In Number Of Homeless In San Mateo County, Per One-Day Count

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County saw a 21 percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness compared to 2019, according to a recent one-day homeless count conducted this year.

The Feb. 24 one-day count found 1,092 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the county, which was 191 more people than the 2019 one-day count.

There were also 716 people found to be living in group shelters and hotels converted into interim housing, a 17 percent increase from 2019.

In total, 1,808 people were experiencing homelessness in the county.

“While that number may sound daunting to some, we know we have the ability and the commitment to end homelessness here in San Mateo County,” County Manager Mike Callagy said. “We are putting together the resources and supports necessary to create a clear path from homelessness to permanent housing, with significant new shelter resources that have been opened recently and additional ones coming in a matter of months.”

The county announced a goal this year of reaching "functional zero" homelessness, meaning that every county resident experiencing homelessness can be safely sheltered in an emergency shelter, or in temporary or permanent housing.

County officials believed that the numbers could've been even higher due to the impact from the pandemic.

“The past few years have been incredibly tough on so many individuals and families,” said Ken Cole, director of the County’s Human Services Agency. “They deserve our compassion and, more than that, our promise that we will do everything within our power to ensure that every person experiencing homelessness can enter shelter and work towards finding a permanent home.”

In addition to purchasing five hotels over the past year to turn into housing for the homeless, the county recently broke ground on a 240-unit Navigation Center in Redwood City. The center aims to provide both temporary housing and intensive services for individuals and couples and will focus more on case management, with the goal of moving each client into permanent housing.

“Together, we know we can put the systems in place to ensure that when individuals and families do experience homelessness, it is rare, brief and one-time,” said Don Horsley, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “We know we have work to do, and we are committed to providing the resources necessary to complete that work.”

Related:

• 2.6K San Mateo County Students At Risk For Homelessness: Study
• San Mateo County Aims For 'Functional Zero' Homelessness
• San Mateo County Discusses Purchase Of Hotels To House Homeless