Homeless numbers up across San Bernardino County, High Desert reports 35% increase

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
Updated ·3 min read
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The 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count revealed that San Bernardino County experienced a 26% increase in homelessness during the past year. Victorville topped High Desert homeless chart with 607 individuals, an increase of 152 or 33% over last year.
The 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count revealed that San Bernardino County experienced a 26% increase in homelessness during the past year. Victorville topped High Desert homeless chart with 607 individuals, an increase of 152 or 33% over last year.

San Bernardino County experienced a 26% increase in homelessness in the past year, according to the Homeless Point in Time Count.

More than 76.9% or 3,226 of the 4,195 homeless adults and children in the county were counted within Barstow, Victorville, Colton, Fontana, Ontario, Redlands, and San Bernardino

The homeless spike was mostly fueled by a rapid increase in rent costs, a shortage of affordable housing, and the deepening crisis of mental health and substance use disorders, the report showed.

The point in time count categorized homeless people as sheltered, in transitional housing, or unsheltered.

The count was conducted in January, with the results released this week in a meeting of the county's Homeless Partnership- Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Homelessness by the numbers

The number of sheltered individuals increased by 29.1%, or 275 people, showing that the county continues to make progress in providing housing options for the homeless, county officials said.

More than 39.9% of unsheltered adults and children counted as homeless became homeless for the first time during the 12 months before the homeless count.

Nearly 44.1% of unsheltered adults were chronically homeless, which is defined as being homeless for one year or more and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, or physical disability.

A homeless woman sleeps alongside her belongings near a sidewalk on Seventh Street in Victorville.
A homeless woman sleeps alongside her belongings near a sidewalk on Seventh Street in Victorville.

Nearly 22.9% of unsheltered adults answered “yes” when asked if they had been incarcerated during the past 12 months.

“This is unacceptable. We must do more. Addressing homelessness is my priority," District 2 Supervisor Jesse Armendarez said in a written statement. “The investments my colleagues and I are making to support county staff in their implementation of strategies will make a difference. We will ensure those funds are invested wisely to address the crisis.”

The High Desert

The report revealed a total increase over last year of 235 homeless people or 35% among the cities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Phelan/Pinon Hills, and Victorville.

Victorville topped this year’s High Desert homeless chart with 607 people, an increase of 152 or 33% over last year. Barstow reported 154 homeless, an increase of 51 people or 50%. Hesperia had 64 homeless people, an increase of 11 people or 21%, according to the report.

San Bernardino County officials reported a record number of volunteers for the annual Point-in-Time Count of the homeless population.
San Bernardino County officials reported a record number of volunteers for the annual Point-in-Time Count of the homeless population.

Adelanto reported 35 homeless people, an increase of 10 or 40%. Apple Valley also reported 35 homeless people, an increase of 8 or 30%.

Phelan/Pinon Hills recorded four homeless people.

In Victorville, 74 people, or 34.9% categorized themselves as chronically homeless, with 94, or 44.3% saying they were homeless for the first time in 12 months.

Additionally, 41 people admitted they were incarcerated over the last year, and 42 people said they have a mental health disability or disorder that seriously limits their ability to live independently.

Numbers ‘likely bolstered’

County officials said other Southern California counties have reported or are expected to report increases in homelessness this year.

Homeless numbers in San Bernardino County were "likely bolstered” by the inclusion of data gathered by the sheriff’s Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement program separate from the point in time count, county leaders said.

The county had the highest-ever number of volunteers for this year’s count, which allowed for the canvassing of more areas than ever before. More than 800 volunteers helped in this year’s count, including more than 300 county employees.

“I would like to show my greatest gratitude towards the joint efforts of the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership, all the volunteers and partners who went out of their way to assist, and the San Bernardino County Community Revitalization Office of Homeless Services for their count of unsheltered homeless in our County,” District 5 Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. said.

A recent decision by the Board of Supervisors will leverage $72.7 million in federal, state, and county resources to support its landmark 2022 Homeless Strategic Action Plan.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Homeless numbers up across San Bernardino County, High Desert up 35%