Homelessness is on the upswing…not in a good way.

Every other January, communities throughout the nation conduct “point-in-time” counts of their homeless populations.Marin’s January 2015 survey found 1,309 people living without a home. This was a big increase, as well as an unfortunate change in direction, from the previous two counts that found 1,220 homeless in 2011 and 924 people without a home in 2013.

What was different? Rents for one thing. Job growth accelerated rapidly after 2012, and rent increases followed suit, especially after 2014. County-wide average rents increased 13.4% in 2015 and have risen another 4.6% — so far – in 2016.

Who was homeless in 2015? Most homeless folks – 71% — were from Marin. 66% were men; 11% were under 18, and 28% were between 18 and 24 years old. 14% had been in foster care. Many had health problems, including 28% who suffered from drug or alcohol abuse and with 30% reporting psychiatric problems (many were in both categories). 49% had been without a home for less than a year.

59%
of survey respondents said YES when asked if they would want safe, affordable permanent housing were it available.