The number of people experiencing homelessness in Contra Costa County will increase by 18.5% by 2024, according to a report released this week by Contra Costa Health.
The annual point-in-time survey is conducted by the county health department and focuses on counting Contra Costa County’s homeless population overnight.
In 2023 the count was 4% higher than in 2022.
The team and its community partners, including hundreds of volunteers, conducted a survey across the province on January 24 to count the number of people living in emergency shelters or away from home.
The preliminary findings showed that 2,843 people were unhoused during that 24-hour period, including 1,959 people who were unhoused. In 2022, the count showed 2,277 people were homeless.
According to this year’s census, 56% of people counted were aged 25 to 54, 29% were over 54, 7% were under 18 and another 7% were 18 to 24. The count showed that 61% were men and 38% were women; 39% were white, 33% were black, 15% were Hispanic, and 9% were mixed race.
The area with the most homeless people was Antioch with 413, followed by Richmond with 388, Concord with 173 and Martinez with 158.
On the evening of the count, 39% of people contacted were sleeping outside and/or in a tent, followed by 31% in emergency or temporary housing, 14% in cars, 11% in a recreational vehicle and 5% in a van. .
Among self-reported health problems, 83% of respondents said they or a family member had at least one serious condition, with 61% saying they had mental health problems, 59% saying they had a substance use disorder, and 49% saying that they had a chronic condition. health status, 49% say they have a physical disability, 17% say they are fleeing domestic violence, and 1% say they have HIV/AIDS.
Most respondents, 75%, said they had been homeless for 10 years or more, with 10% saying they had been homeless for five to nine years, followed by 11% saying they had been homeless for one to four years, and 3% saying they were less than homeless. a year.
The report also states that Contra Costa County increased temporary and permanent housing beds by 26% between 2023 and 2024.
