New data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) shows the number of people falling into homelessness continues to outpace the number of people exiting into housing across the San Diego region.
On average, over the last 12 months (September 2022 to October 2023), 10 people found housing for every 16 people who experienced homelessness for the first time. During the previous 12 months (September 2021 to October 2022), 10 people found housing for every 13 who experienced homelessness for the first time.
While the increased ratio seems daunting, a deeper understanding of the data provides a fuller perspective. Over 1,000 fewer people experienced homelessness in our region for the first time during the 12 months the data was collected versus the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, the number of people housed fell by more than 3,000 compared to the 2021-2022 data set.
With the lack of more emergency housing vouchers in 2023, an unrelenting increase in the cost of renting across the region, and the lack of large projects, like Father Joe’s Villages’ St. Teresa of Calcutta, coming online, we see the direct correlation between a lack of housing opportunities and exits from homelessness in this data set.
“Housing and homelessness are directly tied together, and when rental costs go up, so do the numbers of people experiencing homelessness. When we see the largest year-over-year increase in 1Q2023 rents for one-bedroom units of 30%, we’ll continue to struggle to find affordable units to end people’s homelessness experience,” RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler said. “While this affects our ability to house more people each month, the data shows we may have hit our high water mark of individuals beginning their homeless experience. This is a positive turn we need.”
RTFH began publishing reports a year ago that highlight how many people enter and exit homelessness each month throughout San Diego County to provide the region with a better understanding of the homelessness crisis,
An analysis of the most recent 12 months of data (October 2022-September 2023) shows the following:
- 14,258 individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time (vs. 15,327 from October 2021-September 2022)
- 8,843 individuals exited homelessness (vs. 11,861 from October 2021-September 2022)
- 45,703 people served (vs. 41,345 from October 2021-September 2022)
“These numbers are sobering but present a case for optimism,” Kohler said. “The vast majority of exits from homelessness are via rental by client, either with or without a subsidy, rather than permanent supportive housing. If we get some stabilizing in rent prices and availability, it will help, but long-term success will only come with more homes for people of all income levels; then, we’ve got a real chance to turn things around. Every new housing unit matters.”
The reports are not broken down by municipality but instead provide a regional outlook that creates more opportunities to measure the progress of the Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego.
