After previous increases in the number of unsheltered homeless people, this year San Bernardino county saw a net decrease of those without a place to stay and a dramatic increase in the number of those in housing and shelters. Those were among the findings from the 2022 Point-In-Time Count of San Bernardino County’s homeless population, conducted February 24. The count showed a 6.6 percent increase in the total number of homeless, an improvement over the 20 percent increase in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2021 count.
This year’s count found 3,333 homeless persons in the county compared to 3,125 in 2020. The unsheltered population decreased by one, showing dramatic progress as each of the three previous counts showed double-digit percentage increases. The count also found 209 more sheltered persons than in 2020, an increase of more than 28 percent. The region has assisted with housing and sheltering 2,000 individuals since March 2020, 800 of whom were referred to permanent housing.
The full report on this year’s Point-in-Time Count can be found on the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership website under “Announcements.”
Other key takeaways from this year’s count include:
More than three-fourths (79.2%) or 2,640 of the 3,333 homeless adults and children were counted within seven cities – Barstow, Colton, Fontana, Ontario, Redlands, San Bernardino, and Victorville. These seven cities accounted for 1,822 or more than three-fourths (76.2%) of the total unsheltered population of 2,389 and 818 or 86.6% of the 944 persons counted in shelters and transitional housing.
Nearly half of unsheltered adults who agreed to be surveyed stated that the city in which they first became homeless was San Bernardino (47%). The second-leading answer was Victorville (6%).
More than one-fourth (27%) of adults and children counted as homeless in 2022 became homeless for the first time during the 12 months prior to the Feb. 24 count.
Nearly one-fourth (22%) of adults stated they had been released from prison or jail during the previous 12 months. The same results emerged from the 2020 and 2019 counts.
Nearly half (43.5%) of unsheltered adults were chronically homeless, which is defined as being homeless for one year or more and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, and a physical disability.
A person is considered homeless only when they reside in:
Places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings
An emergency shelter
Transitional housing for homeless persons
