IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
San Bernardino County’s homeless population grew by one percent in 2023, a year-over-year increase of 42 individuals.
That was a substantial decline from 2022, when the county’s homeless population increased by 26 percent, according to a statement on the county’s website.
The results of the Jan. 25 Point-In-Time Count are “a good indication that the county and its city and community partners are building momentum in their efforts to move residents off the streets,” the statement reads.
The county’s homeless population was estimated to be 4,237 individuals. The study also found a 3.1 percent decline in the number of sheltered homeless individuals, who are defined as anyone in a public or private shelter that provided temporary living quarters when the county was taken.
Unsheltered homeless people totaled 79 individuals, a 2.6 percent increase compared with last year’s count.
“This data shows a flattening of our homeless numbers, which is a promising sign that we are heading in the right direction,” said Supervisor Curt Hagman, a member of the county’s Homeless Ad Hoc Committee, in the statement.
More than 500 volunteers participated in this year’s count. Twenty four cities and towns contributed staff time and office space for the training and deployment of volunteers, and 24 law enforcement agencies also assisted, according to the statement.
