Community Action Board
of San Benito County

Community Services & Workforce Development

On January 31, 2024, the 2024 PIT Count was conducted and identified 621 individuals experiencing homelessness, representing a 73.9% increase from 2022. This count includes individuals staying in shelters, transitional housing, and those unsheltered on the streets or in other places not meant for human habitation. San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency led the Point-in-Time survey as the local Continuum of Care lead agency. ​

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Some insights into the information gathered by survey volunteers from 74 individuals surveyed experiencing homelessness:

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• 84% were San Benito County residents when they fell into homelessness

• 9% began experiencing homelessness at ages 50 and up

• 67% say that the main obstacle for obtaining permanent housing is their inability to afford rent

• 9% have been in the foster care system.

 

The survey also offers residents to self-report health conditions.

• 50% have at least one disabling condition

• 29% have a physical disability

• 37% have a substance use disorder

• 36% have post-traumatic stress disorder

 

The key factors in this increase are linked to ongoing post-pandemic economic pressures, including rising housing costs and inflation, which have made it increasingly difficult for many individuals to maintain stable housing. In addition, the PIT Count had a wider coverage of all census tracts including along the San Benito River which may have attributed to a higher count. The lack of affordable housing options has pushed more individuals and families into homelessness, a situation underscored in the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report, where it states that San Benito County residents must earn $50.96 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

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“The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is immeasurable. Job losses, family deaths, the end of eviction moratoriums, and the expiration of emergency assistance programs have left many people who were living on the margins of society without much-needed resources,” said Katrina McKenzie, Executive Director of the Coalition of Homeless www.CHSP.org | 1123 Fremont Boulevard, STE D., Seaside, CA 93955 | https://www.facebook.com/CHSPMOSB

 

Understanding these mounting challenges, San Benito County has adopted the Lead Me Home Plan to Reduce Homelessness and are actively working to increase services. Furthermore, San Benito County continues to see progress on projects critical to combating homelessness and the 2024 PIT Count underscores the urgency of these collective efforts. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) required Point-In-Time homeless count is vital for grasping the full extent of homelessness in San Benito County," says Tracey Belton, Director of San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency. “It not only delivers critical data to guide policy decisions and resource allocation, but it also elevates the voices of those experiencing homelessness, ensuring their visibility and support. By working together, we can drive meaningful, lasting change."

 

The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers invites others to be part of the solution by participating in the upcoming efforts to update the Lead Me Home Plan. Together we can make a difference, especially to those who are disproportionately impacted by poverty, mental illness, and homelessness. Please follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CHSPMOSB) or join our mailing list by visiting www.chsp.org to stay informed. For more information or to get involved, please contact the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers at info@chsp.org.

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Media Contact: Katrina McKenzie Executive Director Coalition of Homeless Services Providers (831) 883-3080

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