Homelessness is down 35%

THE NAVIGATION CENTER has 174 beds for the unsheltered (City of Huntington Beach/Mercy House).

The City of Huntington Beach’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness has led to a 35 percent decrease in unsheltered homeless individuals, according to the recent “Point in Time Count”  conducted by the County of Orange. 

The 35 percent drop is in comparison to the previous Point in Time Count which was conducted in 2019. In 2019, a total of 289 unsheltered individuals were counted compared to 188 unsheltered individuals in 2022.

“I am so proud of the progress Huntington Beach has made in helping our city’s unsheltered homeless population. While there is still more work to be done, this decline is proof that we are on the right track and we are getting people the help and shelter that they need,” said Mayor Barbara Delgleize. The city has prioritized the development of a “system of care” to assist those individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Huntington Beach; and link them to supportive services, shelter and housing. Those efforts and resources include, but are not limited to:

• A Navigation Center with 174 beds serving as short-term shelter and other services;
• BeWell in Huntington Beach, a mobile crisis response team for mental health crisis situations;
• The Huntington Beach Homeless Task Force, an eight-member unit of the city police force.