The EveryOne Counts! 2019 Homeless Count and Survey was conducted across Alameda County on Jan. 30, 2019 from 5am-10am. This was a general point-in-time count of all people who were unsheltered and people who were residing in a publicly- or privately-funded emergency shelter, safe haven, or transitional housing facilities in Alameda County. The weather that day was seasonally normal with no rain. The shelter count was conducted on the previous evening and included all individuals staying in emergency shelter, winter shelter, safe haven, and transitional housing facilities. The EveryOne Counts survey is conducted every two years.
Below is a summary of the report's key findings:
Total population
- A total of 8,022 individuals were experiencing homelessness in Alameda Co. that day, an increase of 2,393 individuals (+43%) from 2017
- 4,071 individuals were experiencing homeless in Oakland
- 79% (6,312) of the people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County were unsheltered, compared to 69% in 2017
- Over one-third (35%) were residing in vehicles. An additional 27% were residing in tents or makeshift shelters and 15% were identified sleeping on the streets and in other outdoor locations. 1% were identified in non-residential buildings
- Since 2017, the total number of individuals living in unsheltered locations increased by 63% (2,449 individuals)
Age and Household Status
- 93% of the population experiencing homelessness were single individuals. 84% of single individuals were unsheltered.
- Most persons in families (95%) were in county shelters and transitional housing programs
- Persons in families with at least one adult and one child under age 18 represented ~7% of the overall population experiencing homelessness in Alameda County, a notable decrease (-26%) over 2017
Gender
- 60% of the population experiencing homelessness in Oakland identified as male, 36% as female, 2% as transgender, and 2% as gender non-conforming
- 16% of survey respondents identified as LGBTQ+. Of those, 32% identified as bisexual, 22% as gay, 14% as lesbian, 13% as transgender, and 11% as queer. 14% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported an unspecified identity.
Race & Ethnicity
- Individuals identifying as Black/African American were vastly over-represented. County-wide, Black people comprised an estimated 47% of the population experiencing homelessness, compared to 11% of the county’s overall population. Within Oakland, that disparity is even wider: 74% of those experiencing homeless identified as Black, compared to 24% of the city's general population.
- 11% of people experiencing homelessness in Oakland identified as White (compared to 37% overall)
- 1% identified as Asian (compared to 16% overall)
- 4% identified as American Indian/Alaskan Native (vs 1% overall)
- 13% identified as Hispanic/Latinx
Geographic distribution
- The population of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness in Alameda County was concentrated in the urban centers.
- 51% were in Oakland, 14% in Berkeley 8% in Fremont and 6% were in Hayward.
- Increases in the number of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness were observed in every jurisdiction within Alameda County, with the exception of Albany and Piedmont.
Sub-populations
- Unaccompanied children and transition-age youth represented 11% of the overall population
- 5% of the overall population experiencing homelessness were persons in families with children under the age of 18
- 21% of the population were identified as chronically homeless in 2019
- 15% of the population were identified as veterans, representing over half (52%) of the county’s homeless veteran population
- 14% of respondents in both the city of Oakland and Alameda County reported a history of foster care. 12% of youth under age 25 in the city of Oakland reported that aging out of the foster care system was the primary cause of their current homelessness
Place of Residence
- 78% of respondents in the city of Oakland reported living in Alameda County at the time they most recently became homeless.
- 13% reported living in another county in California; this included 4% from San Francisco and 2% from Contra Costa County.
- 3% reported living out of state at the time they lost their housing.
- 54% of respondents reported they had been living in Alameda County for 10 years or more (this included individuals who were born or grew up in the county)
- Approximately 13% of the population had been living in Alameda County for less than one year.
- Asked why they stay in their location, 43% of the unsheltered respondents reported that they grew up in the area or considered the area their home and 18% reported they stayed because they felt safe there. 39% of the sheltered respondents reported that they grew up in the area or considered the area their home.
Prior Living Arrangements
- The type of living arrangements maintained by individuals before experiencing homelessness provides a look into what types of homeless prevention services might be offered to help individuals maintain their housing.
- 27% of survey respondents in Oakland reported living in a home owned or rented by themselves or a partner immediately prior to experiencing homelessness, compared to 32% of respondents countywide. Twenty-three percent (23%) of respondents in the city of Oakland reported staying with friends or relatives.
Current Living Arrangements
- 32% of survey respondents reported sleeping outdoors, either on the streets, in parks, or encampments.
- 45% reported staying in an emergency, transitional, or other type of shelter.
- 14% reported staying in a structure or indoor area not intended for human habitation
- 8% were residing in a vehicle
Duration and Recurrence of Homelessness
- Extended periods of homelessness can affect a person’s ability to obtain housing and employment and lead to increased health risks. The length of time individuals remain on the street can also indicate the strain on the homeless assistance and housing systems.
- 25% in the city of Oakland reported experiencing homelessness for the first time, compared to 31% of respondents countywide
- One-third (33%) of respondents in Oakland reported experiencing homelessness three or more times in the past three years compared to 27% of respondents in Alameda County
- 55% of respondents in Oakland reported their current episode of homelessness lasting for one year or longer, compared to 63% of survey respondents countywide. 3% of respondents reported experiencing homelessness for one week or less
- 10% of respondents first experienced homelessness as a child under the age of 18; 10% first experienced homelessness as a young adult between the ages of 18 and 24; and 70% reported their first time experiencing homelessness occurring over the age of 24.
- Among those who first experienced homelessness at age 25 and older, 19% reported first experiencing homelessness at age 50 or older
Primary Cause of Homelessness
- 31% cited economic factors such as job loss (13%), rent increase (11%), and other money issues (10%) as the primary cause of homelessness
- 14% cited mental health and 10% cited substance use issues.
- Other reported causes of homelessness included eviction or foreclosure (7%), family or friends could not afford to let them stay (6%), and physical health issues (5%)
Support that Might Have Prevented Homelessness
- When asked what might have helped them retain their housing, respondents most often cited income-related resources (50%), including benefits, increased income, employment assistance, and child support.
- 41% cited the need for behavioral health services (i.e., mental health services and alcohol or drug counseling)
- 35% reported that rental assistance would have prevented their current homelessness.
- Other supports cited in 2019 included help obtaining resources after leaving a hospital, treatment, jail, or prison facility (9%); legal assistance (8%); and family counseling (6%).
https://everyonehome.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019HIRDReport_Oakland_2019-Final.pdf
https://www.fremont.gov/DocumentCenter/View/41808/Alameda-Homeless-Survey-2019
