Sonoma County reports lowest homeless count in nearly two decades

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The number of homeless people in Sonoma County in 2025 reached an all-time low since annual counts started nearly two decades ago, according to preliminary findings released Tuesday by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Between 2024 and 2025, the county said it saw a 23 percent drop in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

The point-in-time count was conducted on the morning of January 31 in “all areas of the county where individuals experiencing homelessness were known to be,” health officials said. A total of 1,952 people were found to be experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness.

The 2025 count found that 1,123 homeless people were unsheltered, or living in a place not meant for human habitation. Another 829 homeless people had shelter, such as living in transitional housing or an emergency shelter.

“This is the lowest number since the PIT Count began in 2007 and reflects a welcome reduction of 570 unsheltered individuals from 2024,” the health department said.

The number of homeless veterans in Sonoma County dropped from 162 in 2024 to 99 in 2025. Likewise, the number of homeless youth, including unaccompanied children and adults between 18 and 24, dropped from 151 to 115 in 2025.

One population group that saw a rise in homelessness since 2024 is families, according to the preliminary report. Families, defined by at least one adult with at least one child, saw an increase of 37 percent, from 57 to 78. The county noted that almost all of the families were found in sheltered settings.

Another group, those experiencing chronic homelessness, rose 20 percent from 606 to 730. Chronic homelessness, according to the county, is defined as “those who have been homeless for at least 12 months or on at least four separate occasions in the previous three years (and who have one or more disabling conditions).”

The completed report is expected to be released at the end of summer.