Corona Reports Significant Drop in City’s Unsheltered

Corona Unsheltered Population

Following the now annual count of homeless, when volunteers spread across the counties nationwide, conducting personal interviews of the displaced, Riverside County is reporting that population has increased 12% over last year.

Following the most recent canvassing in late January, the county Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions (HWS) presented its findings from the 2023 Point-In-Time homeless survey, to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, estimating the countywide homeless population to be 3,725, compared to 3,316 recorded during the 2022 count.

The highest count is in Supervisorial District 1, with 1,184 homeless, of which 977 are in the county’s largest city, Riverside. The next highest is the Coachella Valley, and eastern desert areas, District 4, with 1,161 homeless. Indio was found to have 427 without homes.

California has the largest number of homeless nationwide, approaching
200,000, accounting for one-third of the total in the U.S., according to
federal officials.

“The next step is thinking outside the box … digging deep and wide
in finding resources,” District 2 Supervisor Karen Spiegel said. “These numbers tell a
story. We have to work as a full county, not just in our districts, with this
element. We have to work harder on that.”

Spiegel’s district includes the City of Corona, which released its’ own numbers, citing a 60.1% percentage reduction in unsheltered homelessness since the launch of Corona’s Homeless Strategic Plan.  The plan includes homeless prevention, outreach and engagement, emergency shelter, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing. 

In 2019, the annual homeless count identified 164 unsheltered homeless in the City of Corona. Since the Homeless Plan was launched in June of 2020, 99 homeless residents have been connected to shelter, services, and housing. Accounting for a 60% reduction. The city says there are still 65 unsheltered homeless residents on the street. 

Corona’s stated goal is “Functional Zero,” in which all are placed in housing and the system is nimble enough to quickly respond as others fall into homelessness.

According to HWS Director Heidi Marshall, county-wide there was a 21% increase in the number of people surveyed who were experiencing first-time homelessness.

Other worrisome signs — a 12% increase in the number of homeless people with
children, and a 31% increase in the number of homeless military veterans, Marshall said.

 “Increases in homelessness can be attributed to multiple economic and
social factors, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, increasing
rental costs and low vacancy rates, community and family breakdown and physical
and mental health challenges,” according to the PIT report.  

 “Of the unsheltered individuals surveyed, 27% reported family
disruption as the primary factor for their homelessness, lack of income fell
second at 19%, and unemployment followed at 12%.”  

The lack of affordable living space remains on the front burner of
most homeless assistance programs in the county and state.

Corona’s City Council approved an investment of $3 million to renovate the Harrison Shelter/Navigation Center. In December 2022, the council  approved a partnership with Mercy House Living Centers to operate the City’s homeless system of services.

Mercy House will operate the shelter/navigation center’s daily operations. The center is pet friendly with an onsite clinic that will provide medical care, mental health and substance use treatment, oral care, post hospital recuperative care, as well as meals, emergency shelter, wrap-around services, and permanent housing resources.

Mercy House will also operate the City’s 12 units of supportive housing, a tenant-based rental assistance program, and a transportation/meal services program for day services.  

The local community is invited to attend the Harrison Shelter/Navigation Center Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, May 31st, beginning at 1 p.m. The Harrison Shelter is located at 420 W. Harrison Street in Corona.

RSVP to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/corona-homeless-shelter-grand-opening-community-celebration-tickets-630292270147

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