As Riverside, the State and Feds spend more money, the number of “homeless” continues to rise. There are few homeless—most of these people who are mentally ill drug addicts and alcoholics. Government is doing little for those folks. The elite non profits, with fancy Board of Directors are getting richer. Schools are doing expensive studies—proving we have homeless.
“Riverside County’s homeless population is up 12% from last year as the number of people living on the streets climbed while the number living in shelters fell slightly, according to a report on the county’s annual homeless count.
The report, to be delivered to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 9, also shows increases in the number of unhoused veterans, older residents and families with children, although the number of homeless 18- to 24-year-olds fell.”
We need to stop the homeless scam—And help those who need it—the mentally ill, and the addicts. Then, surprise, the homeless crisis will end. Stop making the elites and the scam artists rich—help those who really need it.
Homeless population rises 12% from 2022 in Riverside County
The number not living in a shelter is up 23%, 2023 Point-In-Time Homeless Count results show
By JEFF HORSEMAN,| The Press-Enterprise, 5/8/23 https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/05/08/homeless-population-rises-12-from-2022-in-riverside-county/#:~:text=This%20year’s%20count%20in%20Riverside,shelters%20fell%204%25%20to%201%2C284.
Riverside County’s homeless population is up 12% from last year as the number of people living on the streets climbed while the number living in shelters fell slightly, according to a report on the county’s annual homeless count.
The report, to be delivered to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 9, also shows increases in the number of unhoused veterans, older residents and families with children, although the number of homeless 18- to 24-year-olds fell.
The report’s findings come from a federally mandated countywide homeless count that took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 25. More than 1,000 volunteers fanned out to contact homeless people, learn about them and offer help with housing, healthcare and other needs.
Like the rest of California, Riverside County has seen homelessness rise as rents and home prices continue to outpace most Californians’ wages. Since 2020, the county’s homeless population has grown by 29% — and that’s just homeless people who were counted.
San Bernardino County recorded a 26% jump in its homeless population in its 2023 count.
This year’s count in Riverside County found 3,725 homeless people, up 12% from the 3,316 counted in 2022. The number on the streets rose 23% to 2,441, while the number in shelters fell 4% to 1,284.
The 2023 survey recorded a 31% spike in the number of homeless veterans, a 12% increase in homeless families with children and a 6% increase in homeless seniors. The number of homeless 18- to 24-year-olds fell 27%.
Riverside, the county’s largest city, had the most homeless people — 977 — followed by Indio (427), Hemet (273), Palm Springs (268) and Murrieta (165). Roughly one in five homeless people on the streets was experiencing homelessness for the first time, according to the report.
In a memo to supervisors, officials said the increase stems from traditional factors like poverty and a lack of affordable housing. About one in four homeless people not in shelters cited “family disruption” as the main reason for their situation, followed by lack of income and unemployment.
On the bright side, the county saw a drop in the rate at which overall homelessness is growing. That rate grew 12% from 2022 to 2023 compared to 15% from 2021 to 2022, the memo states.
Starting last year, Riverside County went beyond just counting homeless to offer help to those surveyed. About a third of those contacted by volunteers asked for services, with the top requests being help finding housing, securing welfare benefits and getting food from pantries.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. The number of people on Riverside County streets rose 23% to 2,441, while the number in shelters fell 4% to 1,284.
