Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (2024)

TULARE COUNTY – The homeless population in Kings and Tulare counties increased by 16% between 2022 and 2023, according to the most recent Point in Time (PIT) count prepared by the Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance.

The annual report released July 7 showed a major uptick in the total number of people experiencing homelessness and those counted as unsheltered homeless in the area. Despite a reported decrease in the homeless population between 2020 and 2022 — there was no count in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the numbers are now the highest they’ve been in the last 10 years.

“The increase is pretty dramatic,” Laura Fisher, Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance (KTHA) executive director of operations, said. “It’s a large jump in the number of people experiencing homelessness and that’s definitely shocking and alarming.”

Across both counties, there was an increase of 253 homeless individuals between this year and last. In Tulare County, the 2023 PIT count recorded 1,053 homeless individuals, up from 922 in 2022.

Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (1)

PIT counts are annual surveys of an area’s homeless population conducted on a single night in January. They are intended to capture a “snapshot” of homelessness in an area by locating all homeless individuals at one time and surveying them to gather additional data.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires Continuums of Care, which are homeless assistance programs, to conduct PIT counts in order to receive federal grant funding. KTHA is a standalone nonprofit that also functions as the bi-county Continuum of Care, so it is required to complete the PIT count at least every other year.

In addition to the total number of people experiencing homelessness, the report includes demographic breakdowns of age, gender, race, ethnicity and other metrics important for grant funding. This includes metrics like people with disabilities, veterans and those who are considered chronically homeless.

Other than the general increase in the homeless population count, Fisher said the number of people who are unsheltered has increased a lot between 2022 and 2023.

Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (2)

“To me, that’s people who are living on the streets,” Fisher said. “Seeing that number increase is always a little shocking and a little upsetting.”

Across Tulare County, 779 people slept in an unsheltered location, 165 people slept in an emergency shelter and 109 slept in transitional housing. Specifically recorded across larger Tulare County cities, there were 294 unsheltered individuals in Visalia, 227 in Tulare and 227 in Porterville, with the remainder being counted in smaller towns and unincorporated communities.

In 2022, 632 people were recorded as experiencing unsheltered homelessness, broken down to 285 in Visalia, 148 in Tulare and 182 in Porterville. In 2020, there were 704 unsheltered individuals recorded across Tulare County.

Individuals are unsheltered if they are living anywhere that is a “place not meant for human habitation,” Fisher said. This includes tents, under bridges and in cars but also extends to garages and sheds that do not have access to things like kitchens or plumbing.

Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (3)

“If it’s not built for someone to stay in, to live in, then they are also considered homeless,” Fisher said.

The report prepared by KTHA attributed this overall increase in homelessness in part to a higher number of PIT count volunteers, the end of pandemic-era assistance programs, cost of living increases and a lack of affordable housing, which Fisher said she believes is the main cause.

“We have seen rents on the rise in our region, in the state of California as a whole, and people are getting priced out of their housing,” Fisher said. “It’s becoming increasingly more challenging for people to be able to work a single job, (have) a single income, and be able to afford rent.”

Fisher said that even as more housing is being built, the community needs rental subsidies to match it.

Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (4)

“We need vouchers, we need rental assistance programs in our region and we need affordable housing,” Fisher said. “Those two things go hand in hand and we can’t really have one without the other.”

Alongside those services, KTHA is looking for landlords who are willing to rent to people experiencing homelessness. Fisher said they have programs to incentivize and protect landlords who would rent to recently unhoused individuals, but they need more community engagement in that program.

“You end homelessness with homes,” Fisher said. “When it comes down to it, people need roofs over their heads and that’s the most important thing. We can provide those wraparound services … but what it comes down to is we need safe and appropriate housing for people who are experiencing homelessness.”

The full 2023 PIT report is available on the KTHA website at kthomelessalliance.org.

Kings, Tulare County homeless count sees significant increase - The Sun-Gazette Newspaper (2024)

FAQs

How many homeless people are in Tulare County? ›

In Tulare County, the 2023 PIT count recorded 1,053 homeless individuals, up from 922 in 2022. PIT counts are annual surveys of an area's homeless population conducted on a single night in January.

What city in California has the most homeless people? ›

The five CoCs with the highest proportion of unsheltered homeless people were in California: San Jose/Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Oakland/Berkeley, Long Beach, and Sacramento.

Has the homeless population increased in California? ›

California's homeless population may have increased as much as 7.5% between 2022 and 2023. Nonetheless, we can derive useful information from the 2023 count, especially if we focus our attention on the 29 CoCs that conducted a complete 2023 count.

What is the poverty rate in Tulare County CA? ›

Poverty & Diversity

18.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Tulare County, CA (86.4k out of 468k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%.

What is the largest group of homeless individuals now? ›

The Black community experiences homelessness most disproportionately, at a rate nearly triple its population share. From 2020-2022, the number of unhoused Black individuals dropped by 5 percent. Unfortunately, it jumped again in the past year, along with most other self-identified ethnic groups.

What race is the most homeless in California? ›

Report shows over a quarter of California's unhoused population is Black. (FOX40.COM) — A new report shows that the rate of unhoused Black Californians is nearly four times higher than the percentage of the Black population in the state.

What part of California has the least homeless? ›

Coronado has lowest homeless rate in California

California cities have battled a homeless crisis for years, while still throwing billions of dollars at the spiraling tragedy to help those who are in dire need of housing. But one city has defied the odds, reporting the lowest homeless population in the state.

How much money do homeless get from the government in California? ›

A family of four or less people can get $65 per day for up to 16 days in a row to meet temporary shelter needs while you are looking for a permanent place to live. If there are more than four aided people, your family can get $15 more for each aided person in the family up to $125 per day.

What's the worst state for homeless people? ›

The highest rates of homelessness among states are in Hawaii (465 per 100,000), followed by New York (399) and California (367). You can access the HUD estimations here.

What is the main cause of homelessness in California? ›

Study: Lack of affordable housing leading cause of homelessness in California. The cost of housing in California is a leading cause to homelessness statewide, according to a study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Why is homelessness getting worse? ›

In the past 5 years, only 10 states have been able to reduce their homeless populations. As America's housing crisis worsens with rising rents, falling inventory, and inadequate safety-net services, millions are left suffering with no roof over their heads.

Is the age 55 considered a senior citizen in California? ›

(b) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Qualifying resident” or “senior citizen” means a person 62 years of age or older, or 55 years of age or older in a senior citizen housing development.

What happens to homeless people when they get old? ›

People who do survive on the streets into their old age are at risk of becoming easy prey for criminals because of their health and mobility limitations. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, there is a greater likelihood that senior citizens living on the street will be robbed, or assaulted.

What age group is most homeless? ›

Older adults reported the longest duration of homelessness as well as the highest number of physical symptoms, followed by younger adults, followed by adolescents.

How many people are homeless in Fresno CA? ›

Officially, there are 4,493 as of Jan. 24, 2023, the most recent count available, in the Fresno and Madera counties tally. The two counties work together through the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care.

What area has the highest homeless population? ›

More than half of all unsheltered people in the country were in California (51%). the largest increase from 2007-2022 (32,535 people or a 23.4% increase). On a Single Night in 2022: Two of every ten people experiencing homelessness in the United States did so in either Los Angeles or New York City.

What are the top three homeless states? ›

States with the most homelessness
  • California. Number of homeless people: 181,399. Share of homeless people in shelters: 31.96% Share of homeless people as a percentage of the population: 0.47% ...
  • New York. Number of homeless people: 103,200. Share of homeless people in shelters: 95.15% ...
  • Florida.

What is the obesity rate in Tulare County? ›

The unemployment rate in Tulare County was 10.2% in 2023. The percentage of people with obesity in Tulare County was 35.5% in 2021.

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