Sheltered homelessness rises 12% as more people access services; overall homelessness down 1%.
SAN DIEGO (MAY 1, 2026)—–Unsheltered homelessness across San Diego County declined by 11% this year, a significant shift that reflects targeted regional investments in shelter, diversion, and rapid resolution programs, according to 2026 Point-in-Time Count (PITC) data released today by RTFH (the Regional Task Force on Homelessness).
At the same time, sheltered homelessness increased by 12%, indicating more people are coming indoors and accessing services. Overall homelessness decreased by 1%, from 9,905 individuals in 2025 to 9,803 in 2026.
“This is what progress looks like,” said RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler. “We’re seeing good results where we’ve made investments. As a region, we still do not have enough housing resources — there are no more housing vouchers, and HUD funding is uncertain. So the investments have been in diversion, sheltering, and encampment resolutions. When we have adequate investments, we can reduce unsheltered homelessness.”
The 2026 count found 5,108 individuals living unsheltered, down from 5,714 last year, while 4,695 people were in shelters or transitional housing, up from 4,191.
Local Impact Across San Diego County
The shift reflects meaningful progress across many communities:
- El Cajon unsheltered homelessness down 39.5%
- Chula Vista down 24.5%
- La Mesa down 25%
- Santee down 64.1%
- Encinitas region down nearly 30%
In the City of San Diego, unsheltered homelessness declined by 6.6%.
The improvements in East County are not accidental. They reflect targeted investments in strategies that move people directly from encampments into housing. In Lemon Grove, a recent state-funded effort placed more than 30 individuals into housing in just weeks through coordinated outreach, landlord partnerships, and intensive support services.
These types of efforts — combining outreach, flexible funding, and rapid housing placement — are increasingly being replicated across the region as part of a broader shift toward faster, housing-focused solutions.
Key Trends
- Unsheltered veteran homelessness declined 12%
- Transitional-age youth (18–24) unsheltered homelessness dropped 26%
- People living in vehicles decreased 14%
At the same time, family homelessness increased overall as more families came indoors and accessed shelter and services.
Senior Homelessness Emerges as Urgent Challenge
Despite progress, senior homelessness continues to grow and remains one of the region’s most pressing concerns.
Older adults (55+) now make up 33% of the unsheltered population, up from 29% last year, and more than half are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
“It has to be a top priority population,” Kohler said.
The oldest individual we engaged on the morning of this year’s count was an 86-year-old Latina woman in Chula Vista — a stark reminder of the growing vulnerability among seniors.
A System Under Pressure
Eighty percent of individuals experiencing homelessness said they became homeless in San Diego County, underscoring that this is primarily a local challenge driven by housing costs and economic pressures.
“San Diegans should be encouraged by this progress,” said RTFH Board Chair Veronica Dela Rosa. “We are seeing results from targeted investments and strong regional collaboration. But we must stay focused and continue investing in what works.”
“Progress like this doesn’t happen by accident,” said CoC Advisory Board Chair Akilah Templeton. “It reflects the work of service providers, outreach teams, local governments, and volunteers across the region. At the same time, we must continue expanding housing and services to meet the scale of the need.”
About the PIT Count
The Point-in-Time Count is an annual, one-night census of people experiencing homelessness. Conducted each January, it provides a snapshot in time and represents the minimum number of individuals experiencing homelessness.
RTFH thanks the more than 1,700 volunteers, outreach workers, and community partners who made this year’s count possible.
Media Availability
RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler will be available for media interviews on Friday starting at 10 a.m.
To schedule, please contact: tony@manolatospa.com and paulette.martinez@rtfhsd.org
About RTFH: The Regional Task Force on Homelessness’ mission is to reduce and end homelessness in San Diego, ensuring that if this situation does happen for anyone, it remains a rare, brief and non-recurring instance; not an outcome. As the Continuum of Care lead agency in San Diego County, RTFH administers many of the core federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. RTFH also serves as a strategic planning body, funder, regional convener, promoter of best practices, trainer, policy leader, and advisor in San Diego’s collective efforts to end homelessness. For more, please visit: www.rtfhsd.org
