Overview
- San Francisco, which released preliminary results Tuesday, reported a 4% overall drop in homelessness and a 22% decline in unsheltered people to about 3,400.
- The count found roughly an 85% fall in tents and makeshift shelters to fewer than 100 people, and for the first time most unhoused residents were in shelters at 57%.
- Family homelessness rose 15% to 465 households, with 1,474 people in families and many living in RVs that do not count as shelter under federal rules.
- The city changed methods by canvassing in the morning and asking people about housing status, so year-to-year comparisons are imperfect and full results are due this summer.
- City leaders credited new shelter, treatment and outreach efforts, citing a 24/7 stabilization site at 822 Geary and an RV program that moved 132 households and towed 240 vehicles, while Sacramento’s new count reported a 13% increase and local advocates questioned San Francisco’s method.