Santa Clara County finds record number of homeless residents in latest count

Santa Clara County’s homeless population has hit a record number despite local efforts that moved more than 8,000 people into permanent housing over the last few years, according to preliminary results from the county’s “point-in-time” count.

The biennial count, which took place over the course of two days in January, is a federally mandated census that helps determine funding and provides a snapshot of the number of residents living in tents, cars, on the street or in homeless shelters. The 2025 count found a 8.2% increase in people experiencing homelessness compared to 2023, going from 9,903 to 10,711 people. In 2022, the county identified 10,028 people experiencing homelessness, the previous record high.

The county said that the number of unsheltered individuals increased by 1%, while the number of those in shelters rose by roughly 30%, which county officials said in a news release reflects “an increase in shelter capacity and a higher utilization of available shelter beds through the county.” The county is expected to release more detailed information about the count later this summer.

“We are committed to addressing the homelessness crisis head-on,” Deputy County Executive Consuelo Hernandez said in a news release. “The PIT count is just a snapshot, so it is imprecise, but it is one of many tools that help us better understand the state of homelessness in our community. We will continue to pursue a collaborative and data-driven approach in partnership with cities, community-based organizations, developers, and residents so that we can end homelessness in Santa Clara County.”

As Bay Area cities and counties rush to build more temporary beds and erect permanent housing, homelessness has continued to rise in most areas. Homelessness increased by 20% in Contra Costa County, 15% in San Mateo County and 10% in San Francisco, according to each jurisdiction’s 2024 “point-in-time” count. The homeless population in Alameda County that year declined by 3%, but its largest city, Oakland, saw a 9% increase.

During the 2024-25 fiscal year, the county spent roughly $446 million on homelessness including on prevention efforts, shelter and permanent supportive housing. Between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2024, the county said that 33,193 people received homelessness prevention assistance, more than 23,000 people were given some kind of temporary shelter and 17,485 people were moved into housing.

As the Bay Area’s homelessness crisis deepens, Santa Clara County and its largest city, San Jose, have been at odds over the best way to approach the problem. The county has remained committed to focusing on building housing, while also expanding its shelter capacity. Measure A, a $950 million affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2016, is expected to deliver roughly 1,000 units more than the 4,800 affordable homes promised nine years ago.

“Even as we face extraordinary challenges and threats to critical federal and state funding for safety-net services, the county continues to make significant investments in both shelter capacity and permanent housing to combat homelessness in our community,” County Executive James R. Williams said in a news release. “Effectively addressing poverty, inequality, and homelessness requires a systemic, comprehensive approach—one that necessitates deep collaboration and responsiveness at all levels of government. Our community must address the root cause of homelessness: a lack of affordable housing supply at all levels.”

San Jose, though, has shifted to utilizing more interim solutions. The city budgeted $220.4 million this year to address homelessness through interim housing, abatements, outreach and prevention efforts. And over the last few years, the city has moved dollars from a real estate transfer tax set aside for permanent housing to shelter constructions and operations.

San Jose has also enacted a broader crackdown on homelessness that’s included clearing RV encampments and extending a ban on sitting or lying on public sidewalks downtown. The city plans to increase its shelter capacity by 1,400 slots this year.

“This latest count demonstrates that we have a lot of work ahead of us,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “The good news is that the 30% increase in sheltered individuals shows that when we invest in safe alternatives to the streets, we can move people indoors. We look forward to seeing San José’s numbers as part of the full report — and to scaling what’s working.”