Homelessness appears to decline in Placer County, new point-in-time count shows

Homelessness may have slightly decreased in Placer County in the last year, according to a new point in time count released this week.

On a single night in January, volunteers counted 709 people experiencing homelessness throughout the county, a 5% decrease compared to 2022.

In 2022, 750 individuals experienced homelessness on any given night in Placer county, according to the point in time count. In 2020, officials counted 744 unhoused people.

“Behind these numbers are the human experiences of people living through the trauma of homelessness,” said Samuel Holmes, executive director of the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras in a statement. “For example, surveyors connected with an 81-year-old veteran living in his vehicle and over twenty families with children under the age of 3.”

The point in time count estimates the number of both sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Placer County on a single night, and is conducted by volunteers for the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras.

The count is usually regarded as an under count of the number of homeless individuals because people tend to move in and out of homelessness throughout the year, according to the county’s website.

Volunteers focus on three main regions where homeless populations tend to congregate: Roseville, Auburn and eastern parts of the county.

Of those who reported being homeless in 2023, 37% of those were identified as chronically homeless in Placer County, the point in time count said, meaning they were living with mental illness, substance abuse or other medical conditions.

Survivors of domestic violence, veterans and unaccompanied youth also made up notable portions of the homeless population.

“Permanent supportive housing is the best option we have to support those living with severe barriers,” said Holmes in a statement.

This story was originally published April 6, 2023 at 8:58 AM.