A recent federal report revealed that compared to other states, California had the largest number of individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023. Of those unhoused individuals, 68% are unsheltered, says the document. 

Furthermore, non-profit, non-partisan newsroom inewsource stated that for San Diegans, unsheltered houselessness has increased by 32% in 2023 — the highest report this decade. Housing shortages, skyrocketing regional rent prices, camping bans and towing are among the growing reasons for the increase, says inewsource. 

Among the organizations concerned and hoping to address the needs of unhoused communities is the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH), a non-profit organization integrated with diverse stakeholders committed to preventing and alleviating homelessness. 

The RTFH serves as a funder, regional convener, promoter of best practices and policy leader in San Diego’s collective efforts to end homelessness; administrator for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS); the collaborative applicant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as other causes. 

Additionally, the RTFH conducted their #WeAllCount Point-in-Time Count (PITC), a federally mandated requirement designed by the HUD to be issued every two years. San Diego, however, has historically elected to conduct their count annually. 

According to RTFH website, the #WeAllCount census collects data based on the needs of people experiencing homelessness and “provides an excellent opportunity to increase awareness of homelessness and [sparks] action.” 

This year, the survey took place on Jan. 25. More information on the survey can be found at https://www.rtfhsd.org/about-coc/weallcount-pitc/. 

As stated on the survey’s site, volunteers were to join a team of more than 1,700 individuals to canvass the entire San Diego County area — directly connecting with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Volunteers were expected to conduct a brief survey and headcount.

According to RTFH Chief of Staff Jordan Beane, the data that volunteers collect truly makes a difference. 

“[Volunteers will] have the opportunity to help RTFH complete this federally mandated survey that impacts funding for our region and have meaningful interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness to get a clear understanding of what that experience is like,” Beane said. 

More specifically, he says that the collections are provided to HUD and influences funding allocations for the San Diego region. 

“For instance, through the PITC, we found last year that 29 percent of people living on our streets are women,” Beane explained. “Additionally, people 55 or older now make up 29 percent of our unsheltered population, with 46 percent of them experiencing homelessness for the first time. This crucial information informs planning, resources and system development to make sure what we’re providing matches the needs of the population of people experiencing homelessness.”

He also shared that for the prior year, and the first time, under an agreement with the California Department of Transportation, RTFH was able to reach people experiencing homelessness in encampments on Caltrans property. “The ability to conduct a robust count on these sites for the first time led to an additional 661 people being counted last year,” Beane said. 

RTFH Spokesperson Tony Manolatos shared that this is a rewarding experience for all involved. 

“We learn all types of things but most importantly it helps break down the false narratives which ultimately helps shape positive change in addressing this crisis,” Manolatos said. “Volunteers find out who these people are and how they became homeless. Many of them are no different than you and me and are just down on their luck. They lost a job, or have been evicted, or they were injured at work. Some of them are employed. Roughly 6 percent of homeless people across the state are full-time fast-food workers, they just can’t afford soaring rent prices.” 

While Beane encourages all to volunteer, he believes that recognizing the humanity of the people experiencing homelessness, fighting back against disinformation, advocating for their needs and calling 2-1-1 to find out about additional volunteer opportunities are additional ways to produce change.  

Working to reduce homelessness in La Mesa is on the minds of many locals.

According to La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis, “For years, the Point-In-Time Count (PITC) was the only reliable metric available to snapshot homelessness in the region. More recently, cities have increasingly conducted their own outreach and research efforts, which provides a more detailed and accurate look at homelessness on a day-to-day basis. La Mesa, for instance, has established a dedicated Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) team that engages in daily outreach activities. The HOME team releases quarterly reports throughout the year, which include details such as the total number of clients served, the number of people who were placed in permanent or temporary housing, calls for service received, and more.

“While these localized efforts contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of homelessness, the PITC remains an important tool for securing federal funding for the region. It also provides an additional means to connect with unhoused individuals. The information gathered through both the PITC and local initiatives will be used to continuously mold and enhance our programs, ultimately working towards the goal of providing housing solutions for those in need.”