ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement following the release of the Orange County Point in Time Count 2024 report. Orange County’s Point in Time Count took place as part of a national effort to count and survey individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness on a given night during the last ten days in January.
“The 2024 Point in Time Count shows that the homelessness crisis continues to grow in Orange County with a majority of these neighbors stuck in the shelter system without permanent housing to move into,” said Supervisor Foley. “While the data shows a decrease in unsheltered families and children, the number of unsheltered veterans, transitional age youth, and seniors increased. Most of our unhoused neighbors have deep ties to Orange County and increasingly suffer from substance use disorders. We must re-double our efforts to build permanent supportive and affordable housing, especially for seniors, with renewed urgency.”
“As the OC Housing Finance Trust Chair, I met with housing developers to drill down on ways we can cut red tape and decrease costs per unit. This week, I’m in Washington, D.C. advocating to close the federal government’s $17 million annual funding gap for affordable housing development in Orange County,” added Supervisor Foley.
A total of 7,322 persons experiencing homelessness were counted during the 2024 PIT Count. Of the 7,322 individuals counted, 3,149 persons were sheltered while 4,173 persons were unsheltered. In comparing 2024 to 2022, there was a 37 percent increase in unsheltered population versus an increase of 18 percent in the sheltered population. However, when comparing 2019 to 2024, the increase was smaller at only five percent in the unsheltered population and nine percent in the sheltered population. In total Orange County experienced a 28 percent increase from 2022 to 2024, but only a seven percent increase from 2019 to 2024. Click here to view the report.
The report shows of unsheltered adults surveyed:
- 48.33% experienced homelessness for the first time in the past 12 months
- 51.75% have family in Orange County
- 43.09% attend or have attended school in Orange County
- 63.42% currently work or have worked in Orange County
- 69.11% are unemployed
- 13.94% work full-time, part-time, or seasonally
- 10.23% are retired or disabled
Key findings reflecting decreases across Orange County in 2024 include:
- 40% decrease in Unsheltered Families
- 18% decrease in Unsheltered Children
- 14% decrease in Sheltered Unaccompanied Minors
- 1% decrease in Sheltered Families and Sheltered Children
- 41% decrease in Sheltered Veterans
- 31% decrease in Unsheltered Chronic Homeless
- 11% decrease in Sheltered Chronic Homeless
Key findings reflecting increases across Orange County in 2024 include:
- 71% increase in Unsheltered Veterans
- 49% increase in Unsheltered Transitional Age Youth
- 16% increase in Sheltered Transitional Age Youth
- 38% increase in Unsheltered Seniors
- 9% increase in Sheltered Seniors
- 20% increase in Unsheltered Individuals Experiencing Substance Use Disorders
- 15% increase in Sheltered Individuals Experiencing Substance Use Disorders
In the Fifth District, the report showed changes to the homeless population in the following cities:
- 35% decrease in Aliso Viejo
- 57% increase in Costa Mesa*
- 11% decrease in Dana Point
- 22% increase in Irvine
- 11% decrease in Laguna Beach
- 200% increase Laguna Hills
- 83% increase in Laguna Niguel
- 586% increase in Laguna Woods
- 26% decrease in Newport Beach*
- 50% increase in South County Unincorporated areas
- 23% decrease in San Clemente
- 23% decrease in San Juan Capistrano
*The City of Costa Mesa’s total includes the City of Newport Beach’s sheltered homeless population given the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach Shelter is located in the City of Costa Mesa. Newport Beach residents account for at least 20% of Costa Mesa’s sheltered population.
The 2024 PIT Count replicated the methodology utilized during the 2022 and 2019 PIT Count, providing the most accurate data comparison on the scope of homelessness in Orange County over the last five years. The 2024 PIT Count collected participant-level information including sheltered and unsheltered, household compositions, subpopulations and disabling conditions information, such as substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness and physical disability, amongst other demographic factors. The information collected through this process is self-reported and allows for a better understanding of the needs and challenges of people experiencing homelessness.
The County in partnership with the Orange County Continuum of Care (CoC) conducted the unsheltered count, with a record turnout of 1,251 volunteers over three days, from Tuesday, January 23, 2024, through Thursday, January 25, 2024, to ensure the 793 square mile Orange County jurisdiction was canvassed effectively. Data for the unsheltered count was collected utilizing Survey 123, a phone application, that captures GIS locations and provides vital information that guides the way the County responds to homelessness in Orange County.
The sheltered count was conducted the night of Monday, January 22, 2024. Over 100 Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs collected participant-level information for those staying the night in each program.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Chair – OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition, Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
