Data from San Diego County’s annual homeless census shows some of the region’s largest increases in homelessness happened in North County.
North Inland County saw a 34 percent overall increase in homelessness compared to 2023, while the North Coastal region saw a 10 percent overall spike from last year, according to data from the point-in-time count.
The count was conducted in January and was overseen by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. Here’s what it revealed about homelessness in North County.
The Numbers
North County has the second-largest homeless population in the county, with 1,741 people, data shows. It beat out East County, which took the number two spot last year, and now has 1,232 homeless people.
The city of San Diego has the largest homeless population in the county, once again, with 6,783 people. And South County has the fourth-largest homeless population with 849 people, according to the data.
In total, the point-in-time count tallied 10,605 homeless people both sheltered and unsheltered throughout the county.
North Inland: Escondido again has the highest number of unsheltered homeless people in all of North County with 401 people. That’s a 31.9 percent increase from Escondido’s 2023 tally of 304 unsheltered homeless people.
But it was Vista and San Marcos that saw the largest increases in unsheltered homeless people in the North Inland region.
Vista saw a 93.2 percent increase as its unsheltered homeless population went from 88 people in 2023 to 170 people in 2024. And San Marcos has 35 unsheltered homeless people this year, a huge jump from the two that were counted last year.
North Coastal: In the North Coastal region, Carlsbad and Encinitas saw the largest spikes in unsheltered homeless people compared to last year. Carlsbad saw an 86 percent increase as its unsheltered homeless population almost doubled from 60 people in 2023 to 112 people this year.
Encinitas saw a 68 percent increase with an unsheltered homeless population that went from 73 people last year to 123 people this year.
And Oceanside, which has the second-largest unsheltered homeless population in all of North County, saw a 24.5 percent increase, going from 290 people in 2023 to 361 people in 2024.
Other things to note: In inland North County, 46 percent of unsheltered homeless people are chronically homeless. That’s similar to the coastal area where 42 percent are chronically homeless, according to the point-in-time data.
When it comes to shelter, the use of different housing options including emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing differs between the coastal and inland North County regions.
North Inland County saw higher utilization of emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing than coastal North County, the data showed.
That could help explain why coastal North County saw a 25 percent decrease in sheltered homeless people, while the inland area saw a 16 percent increase in sheltered homeless people.
What It All Means
Homeless experts agree that the point-in-time count is a minimum count of the region’s homeless population. The census, which is conducted over one day, is only a small snapshot of the county’s overall homeless landscape.
Still, the numbers show significant increases of unsheltered homeless people in most North County cities. And though a few of those cities, like Oceanside, Vista and Encinitas, have invested in new homeless shelters within the past several months, the number of people falling into homelessness is outpacing the number of people who are getting housed.
Greg Anglea, CEO of North County homeless service provider Interfaith Community Services, told Voice of San Diego that they’re seeing North County’s high cost of living push already vulnerable residents into homelessness.
“These are individuals and households who simply cannot afford the cost of living in this community,” Anglea said. “So, we’ve seen increases in pretty much every population we serve. Seniors, families with children, transition age youth, individuals struggling with addiction who complete a treatment program and are clean and sober and employed but can’t find a place to live that they can afford.”
In other words, people in North County are being priced out of their homes.
There’s also a severe housing shortage, Anglea said. Many of the homeless people they encounter can’t find rental properties they can afford or that they qualify for.
Regional Task Force on Homelessness CEO Tamera Kohler told Voice that cost of living has a lot to do with it.
“I think the challenge you’re having in North County is that was one of the areas that seemed to be more affordable, and it just isn’t anymore,” Kohler said. “They’re now seeing a much more visible homeless population.”
She added that there is still a shortage of services in North County for unsheltered people to easily get connected to.
In Other News
- Repair costs for the Oceanside Pier could exceed $17.2 million, city officials announced last week. The pier was damaged in an April 25 fire that destroyed two buildings. It could take up to three years for repairs to be fully completed. (Union-Tribune)
- The Encinitas City Council will consider putting a 1 percent sales tax increase on the November ballot at Wednesday night’s meeting. (Union-Tribune)
- The Del Mar City Council plans to put a measure in the November ballot that will impose a transient occupancy tax on short-term rentals. (Coast News)
- The North County Transit District is in negotiations with developers to build housing at two of its SPRINTER stations. (KPBS)
Related: This is part of a larger effort by NCTD to redevelop underutilized land at several of its transit stations into housing. (Voice of San Diego)
I don’t like how many kids trun 18 and age out of foster care to the street to end up homeless