The number of people who became homeless for the first time more than doubled last year, a possible result of the pandemic and a concerning trend that could worsen when eviction moratoriums and rental assistance programs end.
In its Homeless Crisis Response System report from 2020, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless found the number of first-time homeless people in the county increased from 2,326 in 2019 to 4,152 in 2020, a 79 percent jump. The previous year saw a 6 percent decrease from 2018.
“It is unknown if COVID-19 is the reason for the increase in 2020 as there have been eviction moratoriums in place at the federal and state levels, but it is well-known that the pandemic strained employment, health care, and housing configurations, which may have contributed to the increase,” the report stated.
The numbers do not come from the annual point-in-time count, a one-night event that usually occurs in January, but represent the number of people who sought homeless services through the year, which is a significantly higher number.
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