Unsheltered family homelessness, down 72%, and unsheltered veteran homelessness, down 25%, lead list of reductions. Several cities see significant decreases.
SAN DIEGO (May 20, 2025)—-Significant reductions in family homelessness and veteran homelessness led to an overall reduction of 7 percent in regionwide homelessness this year when compared to last year, according to data from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count (PIT) RTFH released today. The data shows noteworthy reductions in several cities that saw their numbers fall due to a series of investments, partnerships, and utilization of best practices.
Citywide reductions, including sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, include:
● City of San Diego down 14 percent
● Carlsbad down 15 percent
● Encinitas down 12 percent
● Oceanside down 9 percent
● La Mesa down 9 percent
● Chula Vista down 6 percent
Notable unsheltered decreases include:
● Family homelessness across the county fell 72 percent
● Veteran homelessness across the county fell 25 percent
“The progress is certainly encouraging,” RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler said. “The investments our region and cities have made are working, especially as they relate to veterans, family homelessness, and those needing a little financial assistance. I want to thank the elected leaders, providers, and other decision makers who have helped drive this change. I also want to stress the obvious: there’s more work to do. Too many people, for example, are living in their cars, and while we are moving closer toward eliminating family and veteran homelessness, we need more apartment owners and landlords willing to house people with assistance.”
RTFH would like to thank the more than 1,700 volunteers, including our dedicated site coordinators, trained outreach workers, and county staff for completing the PIT Count in January. An annual census, the PIT Count represents the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness across the region, a one-day count that is a snapshot in time.
Overall, the 2025 Point-in-Time Count found no less than 9,905 people experiencing homelessness throughout the county, down from 10,605 a year ago. This year’s number includes 5,714 unsheltered San Diegans and 4,191 individuals in shelters and transitional housing.
Senior homelessness continues to be an area of concern, Kohler noted. One in three people who experience unsheltered homelessness in our region are 55 or older, and half of them are experiencing homelessness for the first time. The percentage of those 55 or older living in vehicles rose 3 percent this year. The oldest person found unsheltered was an 80-year-old white male. Last year, it was an 85-year-old Hispanic woman.
Eighty-one percent of individuals counted this year said they began experiencing homelessness in San Diego County, down one percent from last year. Other notable unsheltered data points include:
● Transitional Youth (18 to 24 years old) homelessness fell 22 percent.
● Seniors (55 and older) experiencing homelessness for the first time: 5 percent increase.
● People living in vehicles: 7 percent increase.
RTFH Board Chair Veronica Dela Rosa said: “San Diegans should feel good about this data. While we must continue to invest in proven strategies that make a difference, this year’s Point-in-Time Count indicates our region is making the right kind of investments in critical system infrastructure and programs.”
Data from the Point-in-Time Count is only a part of what RTFH provides to the public, service providers, and decision makers to better understand what homelessness looks like across our region. “The monthly data reports RTFH produces help us understand what’s happening on the ground, and that allows for better planning and adjustments when changes are needed,” said Kohler, who also attributed the decrease in homelessness to an uptick in Encampment Resolution Funding, which connects people in encampments to housing and services.
CoC Advisory Board Chair Pastor Rolland Slade said: “Our board wants to thank the service providers, communities, non-profits, religious groups and others who are making a difference, and of course the volunteers who make this count possible. They are heroes helping all of us put an end to homelessness in San Diego. Investments mean nothing without people. There’s more work to do, but this is very good progress.”
In addition to the information in this release, RTFH’s website contains regional and city-specific information.
“The advancements made over the past decade are encouraging, but I do feel that it is fragile. We have to keep the momentum going, so that means continued investment in affordable housing and services,” said Veterans Village of San Diego President and CEO Akilah Templeton.
Kohler is available for virtual interviews related to the Point-in-Time Count today from 9:30am to 11am. Please reach out to tony@manolatospa.com and paulette.martinez@rtfhsd.org to schedule an interview.
