San Diego Counts Homeless Population in Annual Census

Volunteers fan out across the county to survey unsheltered individuals and families as part of effort to secure federal funding.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:55pm

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In the early hours of Thursday morning, over 1,700 volunteers assembled at more than 50 sites throughout San Diego County to conduct the annual Point-in-Time Count, a survey aimed at tracking the local homeless population. The count, organized by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to allocate funding for homeless services. While last year saw a 7% drop in the homeless population, officials caution that the count likely undercounts the full scale of the crisis, as it can miss those living in vehicles or in less visible locations.

Why it matters

The Point-in-Time Count is a crucial tool for securing federal funding to address homelessness in San Diego County. The data collected helps identify trends and measure the impact of various interventions, such as increased aid for homeless veterans. However, the count has faced criticism for potentially undercounting the true scale of the crisis, as it can miss those living in vehicles or in less visible locations.

The details

Volunteers were split into teams and given maps of county tracts to search, as well as 7-Eleven gift cards and socks to distribute to those they surveyed. In addition to counting unsheltered individuals, the count also includes people staying in San Diego's Safe Parking Lots, as well as those in shelters. Challenges include the difficulty of identifying people living in vehicles and the impact of law enforcement actions that can disperse encampments to less visible areas.

  • The Point-in-Time Count took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, starting at 4 a.m.
  • Last year's count saw a 7% drop in the homeless population, from 10,605 in 2024 to 9,905 people.

The players

Regional Task Force on Homelessness

The organization that runs the annual Point-in-Time Count in San Diego County.

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera

A local elected official who addressed volunteers before the count began, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the homeless are not just counted as numbers, but that their stories are accounted for.

Sofia Cardenas

A site coordinator from the Alpha Project, who stressed the importance of the annual count in tracking trends and changes in the homeless population, as well as the success of various interventions.

Tasha Dewey, Jesus Aguilera, David Marquez, and Fernanda Frakes

Colleagues at 211 San Diego who volunteered as part of Group 12, spending two hours surveying the Allied Gardens area.

Matthew

A homeless individual who was found living in a car at the College Grove Center, along with his mother and a pet parrot he refused to part with when offered housing.

Mike, Stacy, and Zeus

Homeless individuals who were found utilizing the 24-hour showers at Crunch Fitness, sharing a gym membership with other parking lot regulars.

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What they’re saying

“The folks who you are counting are being told in more and more ways that they do not count. You being willing to go out there and ensure that they are not just counted as a number, but their stories accounted for, is so, so important.”

— Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera

“We can see trends and changes in the population. We can see what's working, what's successful.”

— Sofia Cardenas, Site coordinator, Alpha Project

“A lot of the work we do is over the phone, it's nice to connect face to face.”

— Tasha Dewey, 211 San Diego employee

What’s next

The results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count will be analyzed in the coming months to determine if the 7% drop in the homeless population seen in 2025 represents a sustained trend.

The takeaway

The annual Point-in-Time Count is a crucial tool for securing federal funding to address homelessness in San Diego County, but it faces challenges in accurately capturing the full scale of the crisis, particularly when it comes to those living in vehicles or in less visible locations. The data collected, however, helps identify trends and measure the impact of various interventions, making the count an important part of the ongoing effort to support the region's homeless population.