Number of homeless in San Bernardino County goes down

The results of San Bernardino County’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count (PITC), conducted January 23 showed a 14.2 percent decrease in unsheltered individuals, and an overall decrease in homelessness of 10 percent compared to 2024.

According to data released by the County of San Bernardino last week, the 2025 PITC identified a total of 2,620 unsheltered homeless individuals. This was a decrease of 435 individuals, or 14.2 percent, compared to 2024. The total number of homeless, both sheltered and unsheltered was 3,821.

“The data from this year is encouraging because it shows that our efforts are making a difference,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., who serves as chair of the Continuum of Care (CoC) Board, which is responsible for building a countywide network to support the homeless. “Although our work is far from over, I’m glad to see progress in reducing homelessness.”

The annual PITC provides a snapshot of the county’s homeless population, which enables officials to track progress toward reducing homelessness and ensure resources are being directed to areas that need it most. The annual count is crucial for securing grant funding to assist individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

County leaders believe the decrease in homelessness is due to ongoing outreach events and a boost in state and federal funding aimed at combatting homelessness, along with the county’s use of those funds to expand capacity.

“The county appreciates the funding that has been allocated to support local governments in providing support and services for people experiencing homelessness,” said Marcus Dillard, chief of homeless services. “These strategic investments have enabled the county to expand housing infrastructure and implement evidence-based programs that significantly strengthen our comprehensive response to this urgent community challenge.”

Overall, the Office of Homeless Services secured more than $22 million last year to provide permanent housing and other support for people experiencing homelessness.

“In San Bernardino County, we’ve been addressing this issue with urgency and compassion by leading and supporting our cities in collective ongoing outreach events at encampment locations,” said Dillard. “Through these events, we’ve been able to connect individuals to shelter, supportive services and permanent housing. We will continue to do all that we can to help resolve this issue.”