Here’s why Sacramento’s incredible 29% drop in homelessness is not fake or a mistake | Opinion

As a midtown resident who works downtown and is an active community volunteer, I understand as well as any housed resident the true impact of homelessness in our city. It was why I decided to run for office, and why reducing the number of people living on our streets has been my top priority since taking my seat in December 2020.

No one was more skeptical that our efforts would bear fruit than I was. But the 2024 Point in Time Count was the reality check I needed. Our efforts are working and it’s important we recognize why.

Despite some initial doubt over the accuracy of Sacramento’s latest Point in Time count, which shows a major 29% drop in homelessness, I believe the findings are correct.

I have participated in three Point in Time Counts, in 2013, 2022 and 2024. The counts are always a bit of a mess — they’re conducted in the winter, at night and with hundreds of volunteers that create a small logistical nightmare. To add to the chaos, many unhoused people move on the nights of the count, which left me wondering if we were getting an accurate number.

The difference between the earlier counts I participated in and the 2024 count was incredible. The 2024 count was well organized; our assignments were clear and attainable; volunteers were dispatched quickly; and the mobile application worked seamlessly.

I chose to canvass the River District again, as I had in 2022, and was impressed by how many conversations we were able to have, and how many encampments and residents we were able to count.

No count can be perfect. But the 2024 count was as close as I’ve seen it get.

Research tells us why people end up on the street, and our interviews only confirmed those conclusions. Many people fall into homelessness due to mental illness or substance abuse. Many more develop these conditions due to the stress and trauma of being on the street without resources. However, a growing number are falling into homelessness simply for economic reasons, with more than half of those on our street arriving there because of a one-time financial crisis or an ongoing inability to make their financial ends meet.

Rising rental housing rates have become one of our strongest indicators for a rising number of those experiencing homelessness; rent in Sacramento is down 3% since 2022, according to Sacramento Steps Forward. That, combined with $2 million in prevention dollars that helped over 800 families avoid losing their housing, helped slow the influx of people becoming homeless.

Since 2020, we’ve seen 1,611 new shelter beds, 191 new rapid rehousing spots and over 1,000 new permanent supportive housing units added throughout Sacramento County — in addition to thousands of below market affordable housing units permitted in the city, many of which we funded with money from the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that are just now completing construction and welcoming new residents.

In addition, we are coordinating outreach and intake better than ever and more efficiently serving those who need us the most.

So when you read that Sacramento’s overall homelessness count is down 29% and the unsheltered homelessness count is down 41%, believe it. This is the first time our Point in Time Count numbers were down from the prior count in more than a decade, and it’s because tangible, research-based investments have been made to address this crisis in the most effective manner possible.

With that said, that doesn’t mean that service providers like Loaves and Fishes are wrong when they say they aren’t seeing progress. Sixty-eight percent of individuals interviewed in the Point in Time Count, representing approximately 4,500 people currently experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County, have been homeless for at least two years. That’s at least two years of searching for services, calling waitlists and struggling to find safe places to sleep at night. I cannot imagine the frustration and desperation those people must feel.

These issues might be caused by a lack of shelter beds or housing units, or they could be an indicator that the outreach being conducted or the options being offered don’t yet meet the needs of everyone. After talking to staff at Loaves and Fishes, I think it’s caused by both. This was affirmed when Sacramento Steps Forward recently reported to the city council that they are only able to find appropriate shelter or housing for a third of those who call 2-1-1, requesting access to local community services.

We are still investing too much money moving people from one location to another, which harms those experiencing homelessness and fails to address the services or housing they need to get off the street. Funding for affordable housing projects is quickly drying up, as one-time dollars vanish and our fees for market-rate development fail to keep up with the costs of actual construction. In addition to the thousands of people who sleep on our streets each night, thousands more are still at risk of losing their housing.

Despite great progress, we cannot rest on our laurels. Now is the time to lean in on what’s working, to be clear-eyed about what we need to improve and to push for more ambitious policies that will cement our progress. Join me in pushing my elected colleagues to keep that momentum going in the right direction.

This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 5:00 AM.