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Home My WebLink About7/21/2026 Item 4b, Tway - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum City of San Luis Obispo Council Agenda Correspondence DATE: July 21, 2026 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Timmi Tway, Community Development Director VIA: Whitney McDonald, City Manager SUBJECT: ITEM # 4.b- SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY 2026 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT Attached is a copy of the San Luis Obispo County Point -in Time Count presentation to be presented to City Council at the meeting tonight. ATTACHMENT A - San Luis Obispo County 2026 Point-in-Time Count Presentation HOMELESS SERVICES DIVISION 2026 PIT Count Results July 21, 2026 Presenter Name Kate Bourne Business Systems Analyst Department of Social Services 2026 PIT Count Update 2 Acknowledgements •Thank you to the 200+ volunteers who surveyed from 7 logistic centers across the County •Technical and expert support from the County ITD GIS team, Cal Poly Interns, City staff, Institute for Community Alliances, Kari Howell and Chelsea Fredinberg •We acknowledge people currently and formerly experiencing homelessness who entrusted us with their stories and for whom we do this work. 2026 PIT Count Update 3 Agenda •Summary •Key Takeaways •Trends •Demographics •Regional Distribution •Inventory 2026 PIT Count Update 4 Countywide Report •On January 26, 2026, there were 1,118 individuals identified experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. •There were 666 individuals counted as experiencing unsheltered homelessness, of which 326 were interviewed and 340 were counted via observation. •The HMIS data reported via the County Dashboard can be used to further examine and validate trends captured through annual enumeration 2026 PIT Count Update 5 Methodology •Point-in-Time is a snapshot of homelessness in San Luis Obispo County on January 26, 2026. •Additional local staffing with County IT and interns •Sheltered Count: HMIS participating and non-HMIS participating aggregates. 2026 PIT Count Update 6 •Capacity in Emergency Shelters increased on the night on the PIT Count. •22% Decrease in overall homelessness since 2022 •87% of unsheltered population are “Adult-only” households. •Youth homelessness lacks progress compared to other HUD subpopulations •Opportunity to increase inventory utilization through CES and local coordination Key Takeaways 2026 PIT Count Update 7 PIT Count Data 8 PIT Count Trends from 2017 260 290 258 337 402 43 21 34 38 50 822 1172 1149 800 666 1125 1483 1441 1175 1118 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026 Emergency Shelter (ES)Transtional Housing (TH) Unsheltered Total People Experiencing Homelessness 2026 PIT Count Update 9 PIT Count Trends Continued 258 337 402 34 38 50 1149 800 666 1441 1175 1118 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 2022 2024 2026 Emergency Shelter (ES)Transtional Housing (TH) Unsheltered Total People Experiencing Homelessness 2026 PIT Count Update 10 Sheltered vs Unsheltered 31% 21%20% 32% 40% 69% 79%80% 68% 60% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026 Shelter Proportion Unsheltered Proportion 2026 PIT Count Update 13 Regional Distribution San Luis Obispo 45% North County 34% Coastal 3% South County 18% 2026 PIT Count Update 14 Age Breakdown 2026 PIT Count Update 17 Under 18; 8% Age 18-24; 4% Age 25-34; 13% Age 35-44; 22% Age 45-54; 21% Age 55-64; 18%Age 65+; 14% Race and Ethnicity Breakdown 2026 PIT Count Update 20 Total Population experiencing Homelessness 53 8 3 2 37 4 164 2 13 1 681 70 12 68 American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous… Asian or Asian American Asian or Asian American & Hispanic/Latine Black, African American, or African Black, African American, or African &… Hispanic/Latina/e/o Middle Eastern or North African Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander &… White White & Hispanic/Latine Multiracial & Hispanic/Latine Multiracial (not Hispanic/Latine) Race and Ethnicity Breakdown 2026 PIT Count Update 21 Cal ICH Comparable American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous 5% Asian or Asian American 1% Black, African American, or African 5% Hispanic/Latina/e/o 22% Middle Eastern or North African 0%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2% White 65% Youth and Veteran Breakout 2026 PIT Count Update 23 Total Population experiencing Homelessness 5 7 0 13 20 7 Veteran Status Youth Age 18-24 Unsheltered Homelessness Transitional Housing Emergency Shelter Length of Residence in SLO County 2026 PIT Count Update 24 12 6 21 43 195 12 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Less than 1 month 1 month or more, but less than 90 days 90 days or more, but less than one year 1 - 5 years More than 5 years Doesn't know Sleeping Accommodation 2026 PIT Count Update 26 January 22, 2024 vs. January 26, 2026 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Abandoned Building Other Park Street Under Bridge/Overpass Vehicle Outdoors 2024 2026 Housing Inventory Count 2026 PIT Count Update 27 City of San Luis Obispo on the night of January 26, 2026 City of San Luis Obispo PIT Count 28 2026 Sheltered and Unsheltered Population 230 273 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 City of San Luis Obispo Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population 2026 PIT Count Update 30 452 666 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 San Luis Obispo County Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population Sleeping Accommodation with City of SLO 2024 PIT Count Update 32 On the night of January 26, 2026 28 5 12 49 65 12Outdoor Encampment Under a Bridge/Overpass Park Street Vehicle Other Age of Clients- City of SLO 2026 PIT Count Update 33 35 27 53 66 74 79 58 Under Age 18 Age 18-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 Age 45-54 Age 55-64 Age 65 or older Total City of Paso Robles on the night of January 26, 2026 2026 PIT Count Update 34 2026 Sheltered and Unsheltered Population 83 1830 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 City of Paso Robles Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population 2026 PIT Count Update 35 452 666 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 San Luis Obispo County Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population Historical 2024 PIT Count Update 36 On the night of January 26, 2026 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026 Unsheltered Population 72 221 174 76 183 Sheltered Population 25 18 60 68 83 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Co u n t o f C l i e n t s Paso Robles Age of Clients- Paso Robles 2026 PIT Count Update 37 18 1 23 39 27 15 6 Under Age 18 Age 18-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 Age 45-54 Age 55-64 Age 65 or older Total Conclusions Data collected shows a 5% drop in overall homelessness since the last unsheltered PIT Count in 2024 with a simultaneous 3% increase in sheltered homelessness compared to 2025. Increasing sheltered inventory alongside decreasing unsheltered homelessness countywide is an encouraging trend reflecting a growing system of care. A complete analysis of homelessness in any community won’t come from one initiative alone, but PIT Count data is promising as the County continues to expand service provision, community partnerships, and, importantly, pathways to housing. 2026 PIT Count Update 38 Questions? 2026 PIT Count Update 39