Homeless Population Rises
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside County’s homeless population increased 7% over the last two years, though the number of unsheltered people accounted for a smaller portion of the total tabulated in the countywide survey, compared to the last one, according to figures published Thursday.
The county’s 2025 Point-In-Time Count was conducted at the end of January, during which members of faith-based groups, churches, civic affairs organizations, public agencies, student bodies and many others fanned out to gauge how many people were displaced, living on the streets, in encampments or in shelters.
The survey confirmed 3,990 people who could be categorized as homeless, according to the Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions. The counts are conducted biennially, and the 2023 survey identified 3,725 people without any fixed place to live.
Despite the overall increase in the composite figure, officials pointed out that the “unsheltered” component fell by 19%, dropping from roughly 2,440 to 2,050.
“It is tremendous progress that we have … reductions, less people living on the streets and more having access to shelters,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Manuel Perez said. “County, city and nonprofit collaborations have focused efforts and investments that are yielding measurable results. By targeting the root causes of homelessness and expanding access to housing and care, we are helping more residents find stability and hope.”
Shelter bed capacity countywide, which includes government transitional housing and nonprofit facilities, is up 57% since the winter of 2023, according to the county Executive Office.
“With more individuals accessing shelter, the reduction in unsheltered homelessness is both meaningful and indicative of system-wide progress,” Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions Director Heidi Marshall said.
During the January canvass, 879 people volunteered, seeking out and verifying the status of individuals living in cars, under bridges, in transient encampments, homeless shelters, transitional housing units and other locations throughout the county.
The county Continuum of Care manages the annual outings. The entity is composed of representatives from civic groups, nonprofit organizations and government.
The data is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine how to distribute federal homeless relief funding, and by policy makers in determining the scope of homelessness nationwide — including what is and what isn’t working.
The board is slated to review the count during its meeting Tuesday. More information regarding the county’s homeless assistance programs is available at https://rivcohws.org/.
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