HomeMy WebLinkAboutfinal-alameda-county-2026-pit-report-for-posting-adaPOINT-IN-TIMEREPORT 2026
A L A M ED A C O U N T Y
Prepared By
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 11
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 17
LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................... 17
KEY FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION ............................................................................................................................... 19
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................................................................. 22
SHELTERED COUNT AND BED UTILIZATION .............................................................................................. 23
THE UNSHELTERED COUNT ................................................................................................................................ 25
DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 27
HEALTH AND WELLNESS ..................................................................................................................................... 35
KEY SUBPOPULATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 36
Point-In-Time Planning Team Participants .................................................................................................. 7
Jurisdiction PIT Leadership ................................................................................................................................. 9
Consultants Supporting the PIT ..................................................................................................................... 10
Households with both Adults and Children ............................................................................................... 19
Adults in Households without Children ...................................................................................................... 20
Households with Only Children ...................................................................................................................... 21
Shelter Occupancy .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Transitional Housing Capacity and Utilization ........................................................................................ 24
People Experiencing Homelessness in Vehicles and Makeshift Shelters ................................... 26
Racial Demographics in the Homeless Population ................................................................................ 27
Racial Disparities within the Homeless Population ............................................................................... 28
Racial Differences Between Sheltered and Unsheltered People .................................................... 29
Age Demographics .............................................................................................................................................. 30
Age Differences Between Sheltered and Unsheltered People ......................................................... 31
Gender and Sex Demographics ..................................................................................................................... 33
Gender and Sex Differences Between Sheltered and Unsheltered People ............................... 34
Chronic Homelessness ...................................................................................................................................... 37
Veterans .................................................................................................................................................................. 38
Transition Age Youth and Parenting Youth Under 25 .......................................................................... 39
Survivors of Domestic Violence ..................................................................................................................... 40
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 3
COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC SURVEY FINDINGS ................................................................................................ 41
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................ 54
VOLUNTEERS ............................................................................................................................................................ 51
First Time Experiencing Homelessness ...................................................................................................... 41
Length of Time Homeless for Current Episode ....................................................................................... 42
Number of Homeless Episodes in the Last Three Years ..................................................................... 42
Length of Time Living in Alameda County ................................................................................................ 43
Length of Time Living in City of Residence .............................................................................................. 43
Volunteer Age ...................................................................................................................................................... 52
Volunteer Gender ............................................................................................................................................... 53
Volunteer Race .................................................................................................................................................... 53
Episodes and Duration of Homelessness ......................................................................................................... 41
Sexual Orientation .............................................................................................................................................. 44
Pregnancy Status ................................................................................................................................................ 44
Pets ............................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Primary Events Contributing to Homelessness ...................................................................................... 45
Employment Status ............................................................................................................................................ 47
Additional Demographics and Household Information ............................................................................. 44
Employment Type ................................................................................................................................................ 47
Employment Seeking ......................................................................................................................................... 47
Benefits Received ................................................................................................................................................ 48
Interactions with the Criminal Justice System in the Last Year ....................................................... 49
Education Status ................................................................................................................................................. 49
Foster or CPS Care .............................................................................................................................................. 50
Preventing Homelessness.................................................................................................................................. 46
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 4
APPENDIX A: COUNT METHODOLOGIES ...................................................................................................... 55
Sheltered Count ......................................................................................................................................................... 55
Sampling Strategy ............................................................................................................................................. 56
Determining the Number of Low Probability Census Are Block Groups to be Sampled ....... 58
Randomly Selecting Tracts in the Command Center ........................................................................... 58
The Role of the Weighting Factor in Deriving Estimated Count Figures ..................................... 59
Enumeration of Count Results ...................................................................................................................... 59
Unsheltered Count .................................................................................................................................................... 56
Deriving Estimated Counts of People Living in Vehicles and Makeshift Shelters .................. 60
Deriving Estimates in Sub-Regions ............................................................................................................. 61
Management and Oversight ........................................................................................................................... 62
Sampling Low-Probability Census Area Block Groups ....................................................................... 57
APPENDIX B: HDX TABLES SUBMITTED TO HUD ..................................................................................... 64
APPENDIX C: SURVEY INSTRUMENT ............................................................................................................. 76
APPENDIX D: INTERACTIVE DASHBOARDS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS ......................................... 82
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 5
FIGURE 1: POINT-IN-TIME SUMMARY, 2009-2026
FIGURE 2: HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN, 2009-2026
FIGURE 3: HOUSEHOLDS WITH ADULTS ONLY, 2009-2026
FIGURE 4: PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH ONLY CHILDREN, 2009-2026
FIGURE 5: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY CITY AND BY SHELTERED STATUS
FIGURE 6: TOTAL SHELTER INVENTORY, 2018-2026
FIGURE 7: EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS AND UTILIZATION, 2009-2026
FIGURE 8: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BEDS AND UTILIZATION, 2009-2026
FIGURE 9: SLEEPING LOCATIONS OF UNSHELTERED PEOPLE
FIGURE 10: COUNTY AND HOMELESS POPULATIONS BY RACE
FIGURE 11: SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS BY RACE
FIGURE 12: COUNTY AND HOMELESS POPULATIONS BY AGE
FIGURE 13: AGE DISPARITIES BETREEN SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED STATUS
FIGURE 14: GENDER COMPARISON WITH COUNTY POPULATION
FIGURE 15: GENDER DIFFERENCES BY SHELTERED STATUS
FIGURE 16: SELF-REPORTED DISABILITY CONDITIONS OVER TIME
FIGURE 17: CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS OVER TIME, 2011-2026
FIGURE 18: VETERAN HOMELESSNESS OVER TIME, 2011-2026
FIGURE 19: UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH OVER TIME, 2015-2026
FIGURE 20: PARENTING YOUTH OVER TIME, 2015-2026
FIGURE 21: FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
FIGURE 22: DURATION OF CURRENT EPISODE OF HOMELESSNESS
FIGURE 23: NUMBER OF HOMELESSNESS EPISODES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
FIGURE 24: LENGTH OF TIME LIVING IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
FIGURE 25: LENGTH OF TIME LIVING IN CITY OF RESIDENCE
FIGURE 26: SEXUAL ORIENTATION
FIGURE 27: PREGNANCY STATUS
FIGURE 28: PEOPLE WITH PETS
FIGURE 29: EMPLOYMENT STATUS
FIGURE 30: TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT
FIGURE 31: PURSUIT OF EMPLOYMENT
FIGURE 32: BENEFITS RECEIVED
FIGURE 33: INTERACTED WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE PAST YEAR
FIGURE 34: LAST GRADE COMPLETED
FIGURE 35: ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOL AMONG UNSHELTERED PERSONS
FIGURE 36: FOSTER OR CPS CARE HISTORY
FIGURE 37: VOLUNTEERS BY JURISDICTION
FIGURE 38: AGE COMPARISON BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND HOMELESS POPULATIONS
FIGURE 39: GENDER COMPARISON BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND HOMELESS
POPULATIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 52
FIGURE 40: RACE COMPARISON BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND HOMELESS
POPULATIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 52
TABLE OF FIGURES
....................................................................................... 18
.......................................................................... 20
.................................................................... 21
....................................... 21
.......................... 22
................................................................................. 23
......................................... 24
.................................... 24
............................................................ 25
............................................................. 28
........................................... 29
............................................................... 30
................. 32
....................................................... 33
............................................................... 34
................................................... 35
........................................................... 37
........................................................... 38
............................................................ 39
.......................................................................... 40
...................................................................... 41
................................................. 42
................... 43
................................................................ 43
............................................................... 43
.................................................................................................................... 44
...................................................................................................................... 44
.......................................................................................................................... 44
................................................................................................................... 46
................................................................................................................ 46
........................................................................................................... 46
......................................................................................................................... 47
.......................................... 48
............................................................................................................ 48
................................... 49
................................................................................................ 49
................................................................................................. 50
.... 51
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 6
TABLE OF TABLES
.......................................................................... 19
...... 19
................................................ 20
............................. 22
......................................................................... 23
............................................................................................... 27
............................................... 30
............................................ 31
................................................................................. 45
TABLE 1: POPULATION BY HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
TABLE 2: HOUSEHOLDS WITH ADULTS AND CHILDREN, LOCATION AND COMPOSITION
TABLE 3: ADULT ONLY HOUSEHOLDS, LOCATION AND AGE GROUP
TABLE 4: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY CITY AND BY SHELTERED STATUS
TABLE 5: SHELTERED COUNT: BEDS AND OCCUPANCY
TABLE 6: HOMELESS POPULATION BY RACE
TABLE 7: HOMELESS POPULATION BY AGE AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE
TABLE 8: AGE GROUPS BY SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED STATUS
TABLE 9: PRIMARY REASONS FOR HOMELESSNESS
TABLE 10: PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS...................................................................................................... 46
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 7
Affiliation Name
Housing and Homelessness Services (ACH)Alan Guttirez
Housing and Homelessness Services (ACH)Amanda McKinney
City of Oakland Amauri Collins-McMurray
City of Hayward Amy Cole-Bloom
Community Member Caroline Topee
City of Alameda C'Mone Falls
City of Oakland Chantal Reynolds
Housing and Homelessness Services (ACH)Danielle Davidson
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)Debra Nelson
Community Member Elsie Lee
Community Member Emmanuel Hleza
Covenant House Oakland Gabrielle Darcuiel
Eden I&R Gitanjali Rawat
City of Oakland Greta Monares
Alameda County Public Safety Heidi Burbank
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)John Samson
PIT Planning Team Participants
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Point in-Time Count is an extremely time and labor-intensive undertaking that requires
months of planning and culminates with hundreds of volunteers deploying across the
county on the day of the Count, including people with lived experience of homelessness.
The 2026 Count included the leadership and dedication of dozens of community leaders.
Alameda County wishes to thank the following leaders and participants who gave
generously of their time and expertise.
Affiliation Name
Simtech Solutions Inc Joseph Ben Dov
City of Berkeley Joshua Jacobs
Bay Area Community Services Jovan Yglecias
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)Juan Ledezma
View Community Advisors Inc Kim Natarajan
Women's Drop-In Center Leslie Berkler
Building Futures Liz Varela
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)Mark Marcum
Simtech Solutions Inc Matt Simmonds
East Bay Community Care Network Michael Garcia-Picazo
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)Mili Choudhury
Alameda County Public Safety Nick Lagorio
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)Nicolas Singh
Eden I&R Pam Glassoff
Housing and Homelessness Services (ACH)Riley Wilkerson
Abode Services Robert Gonzalez
City of Oakland Sasha Hauswald
City of Oakland Shaina Nursey-Ford
City of Oakland Shatae Jones
Insight Housing Stacey Burmaster
Community Member Sunita Garrett
Family Violence Law Center Tunisia Owens
Abode Services Vivian Wan
Covenant House Oakland Walfrido Rodriguez
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 8
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 9
Jurisdiction Local Lead(s)
Albany Annemarie Heineman, Jeff Bond
Berkeley Josh Jacobs
City of Alameda Camille Rodriguez
Dublin Jordan Foss
Emeryville Valerie Bernardo, Charles Harris
Fremont Laurie Flores, Erika Cortes
Hayward Amy Cole-Bloom
Livermore Shelly Haynes, Josh Thurman,
Natalia Gilina
Newark Jessennia Tamani, Nick Cuevas, Art
Interiano
Oakland
Sasha Hauswald, Lynette Ward,
Amauri Collins-McMurray, Amy Lara,
Chantal Reynolds, Shaina Nursey-
Ford
Piedmont Pierce Macdonald
Pleasanton Heidi Murphy
San Leandro Elsa Castillo, Deveon Remaker
Unincorporated – Rural East County Katie Alducin, Phil Clark
Unincorporated – Urban Mid County (Ashland/
Cherryland/ Castro Valley/ Fairview/ Hillcrest Knowles/
San Lorenzo)
Katie Alducin, Phil Clark
Union City Jesus Garcia
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)Mili Choudhury
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)Debra Nelson, John Samson, Mark
Marcum
Jurisdiction PIT Leadership
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 10
Affiliation Name
View Community Advisors, Inc.Kim Natarajan
Simtech Solutions, Inc.Matt Simmonds, Joseph Ben Dov, Derek Smith,
Connor Stevens
Focus Strategies Katharine Gale, Claire Burrus
Consultants Supporting the PIT
Alameda County wishes to acknowledge key staff and partners who contributed to this
effort. Simtech Solutions Inc. created the software, developed the enumeration and
sampling protocols, did the analysis, prepared the HUD tables, and prepared the draft
reports for this effort. View Community Advisors Inc conducted the project management
and community engagement. Focus Strategies completed the final report development.
Several AC Health Housing and Homelessness Services (H&H) staff assisted in completing
this report and associated materials, including Jonathan Russell, Riley Wilkerson, Amy Cole-
Bloom, Alex Baker, and Suzanne Campillo. Focus Strategies assisted in preparing the final
report and accompanying materials.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 11
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every two years, during the last 10 days of January, communities across the United States
conduct a count of people experiencing homelessness. The 2026 Alameda County Point-
in-Time (PIT) Count was a communitywide effort conducted on January 21, 2026. The PIT
Count includes people who are residing in the shelter system and people who are living
outside, in vehicles, or in places not meant for human habitation. The PIT Count does not
include people who are couch surfing or doubled up (i.e., temporarily sharing the housing
of others because of loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason).
The 2026 PIT Count included an administrative count of all people sheltered that night, a
geographic sampling and enumeration approach to count unsheltered people, and a survey
conducted with 2,074 people experiencing homelessness to provide details about the
population and their experiences. More than 1,300 volunteers supported this critical effort,
just over the number of volunteers who participated in 2024.
Between 2024 and 2026, homelessness of all kinds declined. Continuing the trend
observed in the last count, overall and unsheltered homelessness have declined by 13%
and 18%, respectively. Sheltered homelessness also decreased slightly, by 3%, reversing
growth in sheltered homelessness observed in 2024.
The continued decrease in homelessness is notable because homelessness was
consistently on the rise in Alameda County between 2013 and 2022, and is now on a
downward trend, observed in the past two PIT Counts. The following section highlights key
findings from the 2026 Count.
A significant enhancement to the 2026 Point-in-Time Count was the extension of the
survey previously administered only with unsheltered people to include people staying in
emergency shelters, transitional housing, and other temporary housing programs. For the
first time, Alameda County collected detailed survey information from both sheltered and
unsheltered residents experiencing homelessness, nearly doubling the number of
responses and creating a more comprehensive understanding of homelessness across the
county. This expanded methodology allows for direct comparisons between sheltered and
unsheltered experiences, providing important insights into how housing status affects
service needs, barriers to stability, health outcomes, and pathways out of homelessness.
The extension of the survey to sheltered households in addition to unsheltered households
also strengthens Alameda County's ability to evaluate program effectiveness and identify
populations that may face disproportionate barriers to accessing shelter and housing
resources. Understanding these differences will help guide future investments and
support more tailored, data-informed responses that meet the diverse needs of people
experiencing homelessness.
Sheltered UnshelteredSHELTERED/UNSHELTEREDPOPULATION 37%63%
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found
continued reductions in homelessness
across Alameda County, building on the
progress observed in 2024. Overall
homelessness declined by 13% between
2024 and 2026, and a total of 17% since
2022. Unsheltered homelessness has
declined even more steeply, down 28%
since 2022. While the majority of people
counted remain unsheltered, for the first
time since 2015 the sheltered population
are greater than a third of those observed.
Sheltered Unsheltered
POINT IN TIME COUNT TRENDS
2022 2024 2026
9,747
2,612
7,135 6,343 5,202
3,107
9.450
2,999
8,201
Age 35-4424.9%
Age 45-5423.2%
Age 55-6418.3%Age 25-34
16.6%
Age 65+7.5%Under 184.8%
PIT General Population
0%
AGE 65+7.5%
UNDER 184.8%
AGE 18-244.8%AGE 55-6418.3%AGE 25-3416.6%
AGE 45-5423.2%AGE 35-4424.9%
1.0%
42.4%
0.7%
9.6%
GENDER IDENTITIES
MAN
67.1%
WOMAN
32.0%
ADDITIONAL GENDERIDENTITIES
0.9%
RACE IDENTITIES COMPARED TO GENERAL POPULATION
24.7%
29.8%
12.5%
23.4%21.9%
1.3%1.2%4.0%0.8%
32.9%
3.7%
AGE RANGES
*Census data does not currently differentiate between Hispanic/Latino/a/e status for Multiple Races
WhiteAsian or Asian
AmericanAmerican Indian/
Native Alaskan
Black/ African/
African American
Native Hawaiian/
Pacific Islander
Hispanic &
Latino/e/a
Middle Eastern
or North African
Multiple Races
The population experiencing homelessness in Alameda County continues to be
disproportionately comprised of men and boys. Black and African American people constitute
greater than 40% of the homeless population while representing under 10% of the county-wide
population. Homelessness impacts people of all ages, with most people between 25 and 54.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 12
Pregnant orExpecting aChild
1%
Interaction withCriminal Justicein Past Year
37%
UnshelteredPeople withEmployment
UnshelteredPeople with aPet
12%38%
EXPERIENCES DURING HOMELESSNESS
< 1 Year 1-4 Yrs 5-9 Yrs 10+ Yrs
10%14%10%67%
< 1 Year 1-4 Yrs 5-9 Yrs 10+ Yrs
16%19%12%53%
Nearly half the people who are unsheltered (47%) are sleeping in a vehicle or RV, with greater
than a quarter (28%) sleeping in a tent or makeshift shelter. The proportion of people in
vehicles or RVs is slightly lower than it was in 2024 (54%), while the proportion in tents or
makeshift shelters is slightly higher (28% vs. 21%).
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County
7%18%28%47%
OTHER
STREET ORSIDEWALK
TENT/MAKESHIFTSHELTER
VEHICLE /RV
UNSHELTERED SLEEPING LOCATIONS
Within AlamedaCounty Outside of AlamedaCountyRESIDENCEPRIOR TOBECOMINGHOMELESS 68%32%
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count continues to demonstrate that homelessness in Alameda
County is primarily a local challenge affecting long-term community members. Nearly three-
quarters of surveyed respondents reported living in Alameda County immediately prior to
LENGTH OF TIME LIVING IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
13
Homelessness increases people’s risk of
interacting with the criminal justice
system; more than one-third (37%)
reported an interaction with the criminal
justice system in the past year. Nearly
12% of those surveyed were unsheltered
while working. Close to 38% of
unsheltered people reported being
unsheltered with a pet.
LENGTH OF TIME LIVING IN CITY OF RESIDENCE
becoming homeless. In addition, many
respondents reported having lived in the County,
and even within their current city of residence,
for extended periods, indicating that
homelessness is most often experienced by
people with longstanding ties to the
communities in which they are counted. These
findings are consistent with previous Point-in-
Time Counts and suggest that homelessness in
Alameda County is largely driven by challenges
experienced by existing residents rather than by
migration from outside communities.
Other challenges faced by the population experiencing homelessness overall include
pregnancy, which although rare but can pose unique risks.
While Alameda County has experienced a meaningful decline in homelessness in recent years,
2026 Point-in-Time Count findings indicate that the population remaining homeless is
increasingly characterized by complex and intensive service needs. The 2026 Point-in-Time
Count found higher prevalence of people living with long-term mental health conditions,
substance use disorder, chronic health conditions, physical disabilities, developmental
disabilities, and experiences of domestic violence among people experiencing homelessness
than were found in 2024. Please note that the County updated the methodology used to
calculate these numbers between the 2024 and 2026 Point-in-Time Counts to be more precise.
Unaccompanied
Youth
Chronic
Homelessness
Survivors of
Domestic
Violence
52.4%
Veterans
6.8%13.8%4.4%
First Time
Homeless
49%
LGBTQIA+
Community
6.8%
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS*
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County
0-3 4-6 7-11 12-23 24-35 36+
9%9%8%13%11%51%
LENGTH OF CURRENT EPISODE OF HOMELESSNESS (IN MONTHS)
Growth in chronic homelessness
(long-term or episodic
homelessness among people with
disabilities) further illustrates
these challenges. Although
homelessness decreased overall,
chronic homelessness has
continued to rise, particularly
among family households with
minor children. Rising chronic
homelessness and disabling
conditions suggests that more
people remaining homeless require
intensive and sustained support to
achieve housing stability.
Survey findings suggest that homelessness in Alameda County may be changing in important
ways. The proportion of people experiencing homelessness for the first time decreased, and the
average duration of homelessness episodes shortened compared with previous years. At the
same time, increases in disabling conditions and in chronic homelessness indicate that many
residents continue to cycle through periods of housing instability. Understanding these
patterns is key to developing a system that is responsive to the needs of the community.
14
Chronic Health
Issues
36.1%
Physical
Disability
35.7%
Developmental
Disability
17.6%
Based on responses to the sheltered and unsheltered survey
Substance Use
Disorder
29.1%
Long-Term Mental
Health Conditions
40.0%
HIV/Aids
Related Illness
2.1%
SELF-REPORTED DISABILITY PREVALENCE*
As proportions of all adults, as reported in the full Point-in-Time Count
*Note: The methodology used to calculate these groups was updated between 2024 and 2026 Counts.
*Note: The methodology used to calculate these groups was updated between 2024 and 2026 Counts
The largest decreases in homelessness
between 2024 and 2026 occurred in
Oakland and Mid County. While
multiple factors contribute to local
trends, targeted efforts to prevent and
address homelessness, including
expanded targeted prevention, street
outreach, shelter access, housing
interventions, and initiatives such as
the Encampment Resolution Fund
program, likely contributed to these
observed reductions.
Findings indicate positive movement
toward sheltered status among several
priority populations. Families with
children, unaccompanied youth, and
people experiencing chronic
homelessness were more likely to be
sheltered than in previous counts,
suggesting that targeted investments
and focused interventions may be
helping connect these populations to
safer living environments and services.
Sheltered Unsheltered
Sheltered Unsheltered
HOUSEHOLD BREAKDOWN
SELECT POPULATION LOCATIONS
Chronic
Homelessness Veterans
Single Adults
31%69%97%
Families
3%
Unaccompanied
Youth
63%37%
39%61%26%74%
4,096 People 535 People
7,524 People in7,238 Households 663 People in 206 Households 361 People in352 Households
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 15
While Alameda County’s 2026 Point‑in‑Time Count shows continued progress in reducing
unsheltered homelessness overall, the benefits of this progress have not been shared equally.
Several groups now represent a growing proportion of the unsheltered population. These include
people with long‑term mental health conditions, people with substance use disorders, individuals
living with HIV/AIDS, survivors of domestic violence, and Black/African American/African
community members. This shift suggests that existing strategies are not reaching all groups
effectively and that inequities in access to services and safety nets may be widening.
PERCENT UNSHELTERED AMONG KEY GROUPS
People Living with
Long-Term Mental
Health Conditions
57%58%
People with
SUD
People with
HIV/AIDS
64%
1,773 Unshelteredof 3,124 PeopleLiving with theseConditions
DV
Survivors
31%58%
Black, African
American or African
697 Unsheltered of1,078 DV Survivors1,315 Unsheltered of 2,275 PeopleLiving with SUD
106 Unsheltered of165 People Livingwith HIV/AIDS
2,045 Unshelteredof 3,554 Black.African American orAfrican People
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count demonstrates meaningful progress toward reducing
homelessness in Alameda County. Overall and unsheltered homelessness have declined for the
second consecutive count, and many residents have benefited from expanded outreach,
shelter, housing, and supportive service investments.
Since 2021, Permanent Supportive Housing capacity has increased by 91% from 3,710 beds to
7,085 beds. In the same period, Rapid Rehousing has increased by 27% from 768 beds in 2021
to 977 beds in 2026. Other permanent housing projects, which were not a part of Alameda
County’s housing inventory prior to 2024, have emerged, with 174 beds in 2026, up from 166
beds in 2024.
Between 2021 and 2026, the County’s Emergency Shelter inventory increased slightly from
2,937 beds to 2,952. Transitional housing capacity also expanded, by 27% from 701 beds in
2021 to 887 beds in 2026. Safe Haven capacity dropped off slightly, from 47 beds to 38 beds.
At the same time, persistent racial disparities, rising levels of disability and behavioral health
needs, and continued growth in chronic homelessness underscore the challenges that remain.
Alameda County remains committed to addressing homelessness through evidence-based
strategies that center equity, human dignity, and person-centered care. Findings from the 2026
Point-in-Time Count have helped inform ongoing system planning and resource allocation, and
are reflected in the Home Together 2030 Plan to ensure future efforts continue to reduce
homelessness while improving outcomes for populations that remain disproportionately
impacted.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 16
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is an annual census of people experiencing homelessness on a
single night. It is a required activity for all communities receiving funding from the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for homelessness. The PIT Count also
presents an opportunity to raise awareness of the myriad challenges people experiencing
homelessness face, hear firsthand from those experiencing homelessness, identify
disparities, and highlight key elements of the community’s homelessness response.
The PIT Count has two components: sheltered and unsheltered. The sheltered count,
conducted annually, counts the number of people experiencing homelessness staying in
emergency shelters, transitional housing, or safe havens. The unsheltered portion of the PIT
Count is required to be conducted every two years. Unsheltered situations include anyone
without a permanent residence who is staying outdoors or in places not designed for
habitation such as vehicles, streets, parks, or abandoned buildings.
The PIT Count is the result of extraordinary community collaboration and includes a
countywide effort to engage and assess the unsheltered population. This year’s Count was
conducted during the early morning of January 21, 2026 with the support of more than 1,300
registered volunteers, who used the Counting Us mobile application developed by Simtech
Solutions Inc., to gather the survey information. The PIT Count also requires participation by
all emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe haven projects in the region, including
those that do not routinely enter information into the region’s Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS). After completing the PIT count, the data was carefully analyzed
and validated to meet HUD’s high data quality standards.
The Count results found in this report were submitted to HUD in time for the May 30, 2026
deadline and have since been reviewed by and approved by HUD Technical Assistance
providers. This report is a further exploration of the results. It includes additional information
about the experiences of people who are homeless in our community, including geographic
breakdowns by city.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 17
INTRODUCTION
LIMITATIONS
It is important to acknowledge the limitations of the Point-in-Time Count when reviewing
Count results. The PIT Count represents a snapshot in time; this information does not reflect
the total number of people experiencing homelessness throughout the year. The PIT Count
includes only people who are residing in the shelter system or who are living outside, in
vehicles, or in places not meant for human habitation, and not people who are couch surfing
or doubled up. This means some groups, like youth, are likely under-counted. Additionally,
since the Count is conducted on a single night in January, factors such as weather and the
number of volunteers available, may factor into the count’s accuracy. The Point-In-Time
Count is only one piece of data used to understand who is experiencing homelessness in our
community. Alameda County’s annual Home Together 2026 Community Plan updates use
data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to estimate and report on
annual numbers of people who access homeless services. Readers are encouraged to
reference that information for a more complete picture of homeless services and the people
who experience homelessness over time.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 18
The 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimated 8,201 people were experiencing
homelessness in Alameda County on the morning of January 22nd. This represents a
decrease of 1,249 people (13%) from the 2024 PIT Count, the last time the unsheltered
count was conducted. This continues the downward trend observed since 2022.
More strikingly, the number of people living unsheltered in Alameda County decreased
substantially by 18%, dropping from 6,343 to 5,202, while the sheltered count decreased
only slightly by 3%. An estimated 2,999 people were sheltered in 2026 compared to 3,107
people in 2024.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall Homeless Unsheltered Total Homeless Sheltered Homeless
Figure 1: Point-In-Time Summary, 2009 - 2026
4,341 4,178 4,264 4,040
5,629
8,022
9,747 9,450
2,378 2,212 2,337 2,397 3,863
6,312
7,135
6,343
1,963 1,966 1,927 1,643 1,766 1,710
2,612
3,107
2011 2013 2015 2017 2019
Although the count decreased over the past few years, Alameda County has experienced
an overall increase in the total PIT Count of 103% since 2015. In the State of California,
there was a 57% increase in homelessness between 2015 and 2025.
HUD CoC Homeless Population and Subpopulation Reports.
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/coc-homeless-populations-and-subpopulations-reports/
1
8,201
5,202
2,999
2009 2022 2024 2026
1
People who are experiencing homelessness may do so alone or in a household with other
people. The PIT Count distinguishes between households of only adults (one or more
adults experiencing homelessness together), households with minor children (often
referred to as families), and households of only children, meaning persons 17 or under who
are experiencing homelessness without an adult.
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
Members of the household do not need to be related by blood, marriage, or in any other legal capacity.2
2
Table 1: Population by Household Composition
Households with both Adults and Children
The PIT count identified 206 households (663 individuals) with both children and adults.
This is a 13% decrease in households and a 5% decrease in persons since the 2024 Count
and continues a trend of decrease in family households experiencing homelessness.
Ninety-seven percent (97%) of people in these households, 645, were sheltered while 18
people in these households were unsheltered.
Table 2: Households with Adults and Children, Location and Composition
The majority of people in such households (both sheltered and unsheltered) are children
under 18. The average household size for people experiencing homelessness with at least
one adult and at least one child was 3.22 people, similar to the 2024 Alameda County
census average of 3.28 people.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 19
People in Adult Only
Households
People in Households
with Adults and Children
People in Households
with only children
Total
Number of people 7,524 663 14 8,201
Percent of people
experiencing homelessness
91.7%8.1% 0.2%100%
People in Households
with Adults and
Children
Adults 25 and
older
Youth 18-24 Children under 18
Sheltered (In emergency
shelter and transitional
housing)
645 36.7% 6.2%57.1%
Unsheltered 18 55.6% --44.4%
Total 663
Households People in Households with Adults & Children
484
1570
376
1136
462
1342
324
985
270
711
170
524
286
844
240
701
206
663
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 20
Figure 2: Households with Children, 2009 -2026
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
Since the 2009 Point-in-Time Count, the number of households with both adults and
children decreased by 57%, from 484 to 206, and the number of people within these
households decreased 58% from 1,570 people to 663.
Adults in Households without Children
Adults in households without children make up the vast majority of the population
experiencing homelessness. 68.7% were unsheltered, while 31.3% were sheltered in
emergency shelter or transitional housing. Most adults experiencing homelessness are
over 25.
Table 3: Adult Only Households, Location and Age Group
People in households
without children
Adults 25 and older Youth 18-24
Sheltered (In emergency
shelter and transitional
housing)
2,353 90.3%9.7%
Unsheltered 5,171 97.5% 2.5%
Total 7,524
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 21
The number of adult only households continued its decline since 2022, after having
increased dramatically between 2015 and 2022.
Figure 3: Households with Adults Only, 2009-2026
Figure 4: People in Households with Only Children, 2009-2026
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
Sheltered Unsheltered
Sheltered Unsheltered
2,771 3,039
3
2,912
10
3,042
13
4,846
72
7,469
29
8,806
97
8,751
26
Households with Only Children
Households with only children refers to individuals or households composed only of
persons age 17 or under and who are not emancipated.
7,524
14
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Within Alameda County, the majority of people (54%) are experiencing homelessness in
Oakland, whereas Oakland residents make up approximately 25% of the overall County
population. In 2026, Oakland saw a decrease in the number of people experiencing
homelessness, a reversal of the growth over previous counts.
The largest decreases in homelessness between 2024 and 2026 occurred in Oakland and
Mid County. The number of people experiencing homelessness in East County now makes
up a larger proportion of the total Count than it did in prior years.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 22
Sheltered Unsheltered
Albany
Berkeley
City of Alameda
Dublin
Emeryville
Fremont
Hayward
Livermore
Newark
Oakland
Piedmont
Pleasanton
San Leandro
Unincorporated County
Union City
61
422 458
113 129 40 34
191
661
188 216 103 240
29 42
1,715
2,695
6 96 87 209 151 174 141
Figure 5: Population Distribution by City and by Sheltered Status
Jurisdiction Percent of Total
Unsheltered
Count 2024
Percent of Total
Unsheltered
Count 2026
Unsheltered
Change
Percent of Total
Sheltered 2024
Percent of Total
Sheltered 2026
Sheltered
Change
Percent of Total
Sheltered and
Unsheltered 2024
Percent of Total
Sheltered and
Unsheltered 2026
Berkeley 7.0%8.8%1.8 12.8%14.1%1.3 8.9%10.7%
City of Alameda 4.7%2.5%(-2.2)5.0%3.8%(-1.2)4.8%3.0%
Fremont 9.6%12.7%3.1 6.3%6.4%0.1 8.5%10.4%
Hayward 4.4%4.2%(-0.2)7.5%6.3%(-1.2)5.4%4.9%
Livermore 2.7%4.6%1.9 3.5%3.4%(-0.1)2.9%4.2%
Oakland 57.7%51.8%(-5.9)58.8%57.2%(-1.6)58.0%53.8%
San Leandro 3.6%4.0%0.4 1.8%2.9%1.1 3.0%3.6%
Unincorporated 3.0%3.3%0.3 3.4%5.0%1.6 3.1%4.0%
Table 4: Population Distribution by City and by Sheltered Status
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 23
SHELTERED COUNT AND BED
UTILIZATION
The sheltered portion of the count is derived from the reported occupancy on the night of
January 21, 2026. The bed utilization (or occupancy rate) is calculated by comparing the
number of people staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing with the total
number of available beds. A total of 2,999 persons were reported as sheltered in
emergency shelter, transitional housing or safe haven on the night of the Count. At the
same time there were 3,877 beds reported in the Housing Inventory Count (HIC), for an
overall occupancy rate of 77%.
Emergency shelters include congregate and non-congregate settings where people
experiencing homelessness can stay temporarily while they seek permanent housing. On
the night of the count, 2,269 of the 2,952 Emergency shelter beds (76.9%) were occupied.
After nearly a decade of very limited change in shelter beds, the collective shelter capacity
in Alameda County more than doubled between 2018 and 2026, including emergency
shelter, transitional housing and Safe Haven programs. In this period, Alameda County had
the largest increase in shelter inventory of all counties in the Bay Area.
Shelter Occupancy
Table 5: Sheltered Count: Beds and Occupancy
Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Safe Haven Total Sheltered
Persons in Beds, January 21, 2026 2,269 704 26 2,999
Total Beds 2,952 887 38 3,877
Utilization Rate (76.9%)(79.4%)(68.4%)(77.4%)
3
3 Terner Center. (2026). Expanding Interim Housing: Recent Trends in the Bay Area. https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2026/08/ExpandingInterimHousing2026.pdf
1,863 1,924 2,225
3,685
4,092
3,386 3,484 3,627 3,877
Figure 6: Total Shelter Inventory, 2018 -2026
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 24
Figure 7: Emergency Shelter Beds and Utilization, 2009-2026
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
Beds Used Beds Available
1104 867 852 890 914 856 794 852 1022 872 1163 1160
2075
3164
2271 2452 2269
2952
Transitional housing, like emergency shelter, also provides temporary accommodations but
generally has a longer length of stay (up to 24 months) and often serves specific target
populations such as youth or survivors of domestic violence. In transitional housing, 704 of
the 887 beds (79.4%) were utilized on the night of the count.
Figure 8: Transitional Housing Beds and Utilization, 2009-2026
Beds Used Beds Available
1274
1501
1114 1324
1013 1208
849 931 744 764
519 565 513
762 825 1018
704 887
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
Transitional Housing Capacity and
Utilization
Many of the new shelter resources were added during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders
and were typically non-congregate hotel rooms to allow for social distancing and for
isolation and quarantine. Some of the leased hotel sites have remained open as shelter,
several transitioned back to private operations, and many were purchased and are being
converted to permanent housing. Several cities also added single and double occupancy “tiny
homes” or “community cabins.”
Note that occupancy rates can sometimes appear artificially low in programs for families
with children because beds reported reflect the maximum potential number of people but
most families served are smaller than the maximum beds.
4
There was a large surge in non-congregate emergency shelter beds between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID crisis, though occupancy was not full due to distancing
requirements and the need to keep rooms available for isolation. Since that time, some of those beds and programs have been converted to permanent housing and a
wave of new emergency shelter beds have been added. Over 250 shelter beds were added to the system at the end of 2025, which were not yet occupied in January 2026.
4
OTHERSTREET ORSIDEWALKTENT/MAKESHIFTSHELTER
VEHICLE /RV
7%18%28%47%
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 25
THE UNSHELTERED COUNT
As described in Appendix A, the 2026 unsheltered count used a method of targeted
enumeration and sampling to estimate the number of people unsheltered throughout
Alameda County. The estimated unsheltered population for the night of the count was
5,202 people, just under two-thirds (63%) of the total homeless population of 8,201. This
was a decrease of 18% from 2024.
Figure 9: Sleeping Locations of Unsheltered People
47% of the population counted in unsheltered locations were living in vehicles in 2026, a
decrease from 54% in 2024.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 26
People Experiencing Homelessness in
Vehicles and Makeshift Shelters
In the Bay Area, homelessness has increasingly taken the form of people living in vehicles
and makeshift shelters. This offers some stability and privacy, but it also brings real
challenges, including limited access to sanitation and a transient living situation that
complicates access to health care, social services, and jobs.
In Alameda County, 47% of the unsheltered population counted in the 2026 PIT Count lived
in vehicles or RVs and 28% lived in tents or makeshift shelters, a slight shift from the 54%
in vehicles or RVs and 21% in tents or makeshift shelters counted in the 2024 unsheltered
count. The total number of people living in these locations fell between 2024 and 2026,
however, in alignment with the overall decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
People experiencing unsheltered homelessness living in vehicles and makeshift shelters
can be found throughout the county. The map below highlights these locations.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 27
The demographics of people experiencing homelessness are collected as part of the Point-
in-Time Count. These demographics include age, race, sex, and gender identity. The 2026
Alameda County PIT Count collected sex and gender as two distinct categories, unlike the
U.S. Census, which asks only a single "sex" question with binary "male" and "female"
response options. The PIT Count's gender identity question offered a broader range of
response options, allowing respondents to identify beyond the binary categories used by
the Census. Similarly, the race and ethnicity categories used in the PIT Count do not align
with those documented by the Census: the Census provides six race categories and
classifies Hispanic/Latina/e/o as an ethnicity rather than a race, while the PIT Count
includes seven race and ethnicity categories that include Hispanic/Latina/e/o as an option.
DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Racial Demographics in the Homeless
Population
The population of people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County includes people
of many racial backgrounds. The largest racial group experiencing homelessness in
Alameda County is Black, African-American or African, 3,476 people (42.4%).
Table 6: Homeless Population by Race
Race Total Percentage
American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous 95 1.2%
American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 68 0.8%
Asian or Asian American 300 3.7%
Asian or Asian American & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 13 0.2%
Black, African American, or African 3,476 42.4%
Black, African American, or African & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 78 1.0%
Hispanic/Latina/e/o 1,349 16.4%
Middle Eastern or North African 67 0.8%
Middle Eastern or North African & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 0 0%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 106 1.3%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 15 0.2%
White 2,026 24.7%
White & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 202 2.5%
Multi-racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o 74 0.9%
Multi-racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)332 4.0%
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 28
Racial Disparities within the Homeless
Population
Figure 10: County and Homeless Populations by Race
Large racial disparities exist between the population experiencing homelessness and the
overall population. This is true of almost every community with significant populations
experiencing homelessness in the United States. The chart below highlights the racial
identities of people experiencing homelessness compared with the overall county population.
Due to changes in race categories not aligning with census categories, the data reflected in
the chart below represents the percentage of each category with and without Latina/e/o
identity included. For example, people who identified as Asian or Asian and Latina/e/o are
reflected in the Asian percentage. Similarly, people who identified as Latina/e/o alone or in
combination with another race are reflected in the Latina/e/o percentage.
Most Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), especially African Americans,
experience homelessness at higher rates than people who are White. Within Alameda
County, people who identify as Black or African American constitute 9.6% of the overall
population yet comprise 42.4% of the homeless population (up slightly from 41.3% in 2024).
While the numbers are smaller, there is also a higher prevalence of people who are
American Indian or Native Alaskan as well as those who are Native Hawaiian and Pacific
Islanders. While the US Census data indicates American Indian / Native Alaskans comprise
1.0% of the overall population this group accounted for 1.2% of the homeless population
(down from 2.7% in 2024). Similarly, 0.7% of the population in Alameda County is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders yet 1.3% were found to be experiencing homelessness during
the PIT Count.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2026). 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
5
5
People Experiencing Homelessness County Population
*Census data does not currently differentiate between Hispanic/Latino/a/e status for Multiple Races
0%1.0%
42.4%
0.7%
9.6%
24.7%
29.8%
12.5%
23.4%21.9%
1.3%1.2%4.0%0.8%
32.9%
3.7%
WhiteAsian or Asian
AmericanAmerican Indian/
Native Alaskan
Black/ African/
African American
Native Hawaiian/
Pacific Islander
Hispanic &
Latino/e/a
Middle Eastern
or North African
Multiple Races
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 29
Racial Differences Between Sheltered andUnsheltered People
Sheltered Unsheltered
Figure 11: Sheltered and Unsheltered Populations by Race
AMERICAN
INDIAN
MIDDLE
EASTERN &
LATINO
AMERICAN
INDIAN & LATINO
NATIVE
HAWAIIAN /
PACIFIC
ISLANDER
ASIAN
NATIVE
HAWAIIAN /
PACIFIC & LATINO
1.1%1.2%1.2%0.6%3.3%3.8%
0.1%0.2%
38.8%
1.8%0.5%
13.7%
18.1%
0.7%0.9%
48.5%
0%0%1.6%1.1%0.3%0.1%
17.5%
28.9%
4.5%
1.3%1.2%0.7%
4.5%3.8%
As described in the previous section, Black, African American, or African people are
overrepresented in the overall homeless population. However, representation by race is
different when looking at people who are sheltered and unsheltered in Alameda County.
People who identify as Asian, Hispanic/Latino/e/a, and White are more likely to be
unsheltered, while people who are Black, African American, or African make up a larger
share of the sheltered population
ASIAN & LATINO
WHITE
BLACK
WHITE & LATINO
BLACK & LATINO
MULTIPLE RACES -
NOT LATINO
LATINA / E / O
MULTIPLE RACES
& LATINO
MIDDLE
EASTERN
People Experiencing Homelessness County Population
4.8%
19.8%
4.8%
7.9%
16.6%15.5%
24.9%
15.9%
23.2%
13.3%
18.3%
12.1%
7.5%
15.4%
Adults (ages 18-54) are disproportionately represented in the homeless population, while
children, youth and older adults 65 and over are more prevalent in the county population.
Children under 18 represent 4.8% of those experiencing homelessness and 19.8% of the
population, respectively. In contrast to this comparison, those experiencing homelessness
between the ages of 35-44 make up 24.9% of the homeless population while they
represent 15.9% of the greater populace.
Figure 12: County and Homeless Populations by Age
UNDER 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Age Demographics
Within the total homeless population, Alameda County saw a 13.7% decrease in
homelessness among adults, while the population under 18 decreased by 8.2% from 2024
to 2026. Young adults also decreased by 7.9%, from 429 in 2026 to 395 in 2024.
The U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). American Community Survey: Demographic and Housing Estimates. https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP1Y2024.DP05?
g=050XX00US06001
Table 7: Homeless Population by Age and Household Type
Age Group Inside Households with Adults and
Children
Inside Adult Only or Child Only
Households
Total Percentage
Children (under age 18)376 14 390 4.8%
Youth (age 18-24)40 355 395 4.8%
Adults (25-34) 109 1,250 1,359 16.6%
Adults (35-44) 87 1,955 2,042 24.9%
Adults (45-54) 44 1,856 1,900 23.2%
Older Adults (55-64)7 1,490 1,497 18.3%
Older Adults (65 and Over)0 618 618 7.5%
6
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 30
6
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 31
Age demographics between the sheltered and unsheltered populations in Alameda County
demonstrate that children and transition age youth are more likely to be sheltered. Adults
over 25 are more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness. As is the case in the
majority of CoCs in the US, there are proportionally more available shelter beds for people
in families than there are for individual adults. In Alameda County there are 747 beds
between Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing available for people in families,
while there were 663 people estimated to be experiencing homelessness in these
households. Conversely, there are 2,874 beds for adult individuals between Emergency
Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Safe Haven while 7,524 individuals were estimated to
be experiencing homelessness.
There were 206 households with both adults and children. 56.7% of people in these
households were children under the age of 18, 6.0% were young adults 18-24, and 37.3%
were adults over the age of 25. The average household size was 3.22 people. There were
7,238 households without children, with 4.7% of people in these households being young
adults age 18 to 24 and the remaining 95.3% being adults over the age of 25.
Within the unsheltered population in Alameda County, 5,054 individuals were reported as
25 or older, 127 were between the ages of 18-24, and 21 were reported as children under 18.
Between 2024 and 2026, there was a 16.7% decrease in unsheltered adults above 25 years
old, a 40.4% decrease in the number of people between the ages of 18-24, and a 68.2%
decrease in the number of children under 18 experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Age Differences Between Sheltered and
Unsheltered People
Table 8: Age Groups by Sheltered and Unsheltered Status
Age Group Sheltered % Sheltered Unsheltered % Unsheltered Total
Children (17 and under) 369 94.6%21 5.4%390
Youth (age 18-24) 268 67.8%127 32.2%395
Adults (25-34) 437 32.2%922 67.8%1,359
Adults (35-44) 579 28.4%1,463 71.6%2,042
Adults (45-54) 517 27.2%1,383 72.8%1,900
Adults (55-64) 526 35.1%971 64.9%1,497
Adults (65 and Over)303 49.0%315 51.0%618
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 32
Overall, within the total homeless population, including both sheltered and unsheltered,
Alameda County saw a 13.5% decrease in homelessness among adults, while the
population under 18 decreased 8.2% from 2024 to 2026. Young adults decreased 7.9%
from 429 in 2024 to 395 in 2026.
Within Alameda County, 618 individuals 65 years and older made up 10.1% and 6.1% of
sheltered and unsheltered populations, respectively. Within the overall homeless
population, individuals over 55 accounted for 25.8% of those recorded as people
experiencing homelessness. At a national level, 28.3% of the population experiencing
homelessness is over the age of 55.
Figure 13: Age Disparities Between Sheltered and Unsheltered Status
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
12.3%
0.4%
8.9%
2.4%
14.6%
17.7%
19.3%
28.1%
17.2%
26.6%
17.5%
18.7%
6.1%
10.1%
UnshelteredSheltered
7
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2026). 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
7
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 33
Gender and Sex Demographics
Figure 14: Gender Comparison with County Population
31.7%
50.4%
66.6%
49.6%
1.7%
Men make up two-thirds of the population experiencing homelessness – 5,458 (66.6%) of the
total population – while women accounted for 2,603 (31.7%) and people with other gender
identities accounted for 1.7% with 140 people. In the County population, 49.6% of the
population were recorded as men and 50.4% as women. It is important to note that the US
Census data currently does not provide gender demographic data beyond men and women.
The gender distribution is different for families. Within households with adults and children,
the survey findings showed that 63.4% of respondents identified as women and 36.5%
identified as men.
N/A
In addition to gender, sex data was collected in the 2026 PIT Count survey. Most survey
respondents who identified as female also identified as women and girls (95%), and most
who identified as male also identified as men or boys (97%).
Woman / Girl Man / Boy Additional Gender Identities
County PopulationPeople Experiencing Homelessness
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 34
Gender and Sex Differences Between
Sheltered and Unsheltered People
Figure 15: Gender Differences by Sheltered Status
Woman / Girl Man / Boy Additional Gender Identities
37.8%
28.2%
61.0%
69.7%
1.2%2.0%
Men are overrepresented in the homeless population in general and they are more likely to
be unsheltered than women. People who identify as a gender other than man or woman are
also more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness.
UnshelteredSheltered
The Census collects data for sex but not for gender. When compared with the sex data
collected in the 2026 PIT Count, people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County are
disproportionately male.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 35
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
According to the Alameda County Homeless Mortality Report for calendar year 2024, the
median age at death for individuals experiencing homelessness in the county is 54 years,
while life expectancy is 75 years for the general population. Without regular access to safe
and stable housing, many individuals also lack access to healthcare, experience
preventable illness, and often endure longer hospitalizations than those who have safe and
stable housing. It is estimated that those experiencing homelessness stay four days (or
36%) longer per hospital admission than non-homeless patients.
In Alameda County, 68.4% of those who completed the Point-In-Time survey were found to
have at least one disabling condition. The prevalence rates of disabling conditions for the
people experiencing homelessness grew in nearly every category, with the biggest growth
among those reporting a long-term mental health condition. Please note that the County
updated the methodology used to calculate the number of people with disabling conditions
between the 2024 and 2026 Point-in-Time Counts to be more precise.
8
Figure 16: Self-Reported Disability Conditions Over Time*
Substance
Use Disorder
Long-Term Mental
Health Condition
26%
23%
29%
31%
19%
3%
Chronic Health
Condition
Physical
Disability
Developmental
Disability HIV / AIDS
29%
40%
36%36%
17%
2%
20262024
8
9
9 Sharon A. Salit et al., "Hospitalization Costs Associated with Homelessness in New York City," New England Journal of Medicine 338, no. 24,
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199806113382406.
*Note: The methodology used to calculate these groups was updated to be more precise between 2024 and 2026 Counts.
Alameda County Housing and Homelessness Services. (2025). "Alameda County Homeless Mortality Report: Calendar Year 2024 Executive Summary."
https://www.achch.org/uploads/7/2/5/4/72547769/alameda_county_homeless_mortality_report_executive_summary_cy2024__final.pdf.
5
1 2 3
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 36
KEY SUBPOPULATIONS
As homelessness is a complex issue, it is often beneficial to focus the conversations on
particular “subpopulations.” Three of these key subpopulations are:
Local progress toward ending homelessness can be evaluated broadly as well as by each of
these subpopulations. Alameda County also places specific attention to these population
groups and reports on progress in the Home Together annual updates. The following
subsections utilize data gathered from local Point in Time counts as well as results from
the national count.
People experiencing
chronic homelessness
Veterans Unaccompanied children and
transition-age youth
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 37
Chronic Homelessness
HUD defines a chronically homeless person as someone who has experienced homelessness for
a year or longer—or who has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness totaling 12
months in the last three years—and also has a disabling condition that prevents them from
maintaining work or housing. This definition applies to adult individuals and people in
households with adults and children who meet the definition.
The chronically homeless population is one of the most vulnerable populations experiencing
unsheltered homelessness; the mortality rate for those experiencing chronic homelessness is
four to nine times higher than that of the general population. People experiencing chronic
homelessness generate substantial public costs, driven primarily by frequent emergency room
visits, contact with law enforcement, incarceration, and ongoing use of social services and
homeless assistance programs. These costs can be substantially reduced through targeted
housing investments, however.
In Alameda County, 1,592 of 2,630 adults (60.5%) in shelters were determined to be chronically
homeless whereas 2,504 of the 5,181 (48.3%) from the unsheltered count were determined to
be chronically homeless.
In the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR), HUD found that 155,750
individuals were experiencing chronic homelessness, which is just under one third of all
homeless individuals. Within Alameda County, 3,844 of 7,524 (51.1%) individual adults were
estimated to be chronically homeless. For family households, the percentage is lower, with
244 of the 663 (36.8%) people in households with at least one adult and one child considered
to be chronically homeless in the 2026 Count.
Figure 17: Chronic Homelessness Over Time, 2011-2026*
984
230 200 211 298 617 991 1,391854539
1,409
1,619
1,737
2,441
2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024
1,214
2,236
2,728
3,832
1,707
750
1,054
2026
1,592
2,504
4,096
*Note: The methodology used to calculate the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness was updated to be more precise between 2024
and 2026 Counts.
10O'Connell, J. J. (2005). “Premature Mortality in Homeless Populations: A Review of the Literature.” https://santabarbarastreetmedicine.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/PrematureMortalityFinal.pdf
10
11 Flaming, D., Toros, H., & Burns, P. (2015). “Home Not Found: The Cost of Homelessness in Silicon Valley.” https://economicrt.org/publication/home-
not-found/
11
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2026). 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
12
12
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 38
Veterans
Within shelters, 25 persons in veteran households were determined to be chronically
homeless, and 249 people in the unsheltered veteran households were determined to be
chronically homeless.
Sheltered Homeless Veterans Unsheltered Homeless Veterans
Figure 18: Veteran Homelessness Over Time, 2011-2026
345
143 139 157 153 147 120 140
353
231
378
545
430 384
2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024
13
U.S. veterans experience conditions that place them at increased risk for homelessness.
Veterans experience higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain
injury (TBI), sexual assault, and substance abuse. Veterans experiencing homelessness are
more likely to live on the street than in shelters and remain unsheltered for extended
periods.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a broad range of benefits and
services to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. These benefits can involve different forms
of financial assistance, including monthly cash payments to disabled veterans, health care,
education, and housing benefits. In addition to these supports, the VA and HUD partner to
provide additional housing and support services to veterans currently homeless or at risk of
homelessness.
Within Alameda County’s PIT Count, 535 individuals were identified as veterans. This
represents 6.8% of all adults found on that night. Veterans make up approximately 3% of
the population overall in the county. While the majority of those found in veteran
households were adults without children, there were three households with children with a
total of ten people in those households. There were almost three times the number of
veterans living unsheltered than those staying in shelters.
13
2026
488 492
388
531
692
550
524 535
396
139
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. “Veteran Homelessness.” https://nchv.org/veteran-homelessness/
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 39
Transition Age Youth and Parenting Youth
Under 25
Young people experiencing homelessness tend to have difficulty accessing shelter,
medical care, and employment. Potential reasons for this include the stigma of their
housing situation, lack of knowledge of available resources, and a dearth of services
targeted to young people.
Although largely considered an undercount, according to the 2025 AHAR, there are over
35,000 unaccompanied youth experiencing unsheltered homelessness and in public
shelters, with most being between the ages of 18 and 24. In Alameda County, 42.9% of
unaccompanied youth counted in the 2026 PIT Count were women, and 2.9% identified as a
gender other than men or women. By comparison, women and girls represented 31.7% of
the overall PIT Count population, and 1.7% identified as a gender other than men or women.
These findings indicate that unaccompanied youth are more likely than the overall PIT
Count population to be women or gender nonconforming.
The estimated number of unaccompanied youth decreased 9.1% from 397 people in 2024
to 361 in 2026. Rates of unsheltered homelessness among this group decreased from 51%
in 2024 to 37% in 2026. For the first time since 2015, the majority of unaccompanied youth
were living in shelter. Four percent of unaccompanied youth were under 18 whereas 96%
were between the ages of 18 and 24.
Sheltered Unaccompanied Youth Unsheltered Unaccompanied Youth
Figure 19: Unaccompanied Youth Over Time, 2015-2026
738
228 253 143 170 195
71
588
662
202
2015 2017 2019 2022 2024
14
14
2026
299
991
731
832
397
361
133
228
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2026). 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
Sheltered Parenting Youth Unsheltered Parenting Youth
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 40
Figure 20: Parenting Youth Over Time, 2015-2026
70 69
2015 2017 2019 2022 2024
19
36 30
5
1
12
In 2026, there were 18 parenting youth counted, and all were found in shelters. This
represents a 40% decrease since 2024.
18
2026
Survivors of Domestic Violence
13.8% of the adult population experiencing homelessness in Alameda County (1,078
people) were currently fleeing domestic violence in 2026, up from 7.3% in 2024. 27.2% had
experienced domestic violence at any point in their lifetime. Please note that the County
updated the methodology used to calculate the number of people who had experienced
domestic violence between the 2024 and 2026 Point-in-Time Counts to be more precise.
Cisgender women were 3.5 times as likely to have experienced DV in their lifetime relative
to cisgender men, and transgender or gender non-conforming people were twice as likely
relative to cisgender men.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 41
COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC SURVEY
FINDINGS
While HUD provides guidance for specific data collection requirements for the Point-in-Time
Count, many communities also use the opportunity to collect additional data to learn more
about the experiences and needs of people experiencing homelessness. The following charts
represent the responses from people who answered survey questions with a volunteer during
the count efforts.
In 2026, for the first time, Alameda County conducted both a survey of unsheltered people
experiencing homelessness and a survey of people residing in shelters as a part of the Point-
in-Time Count survey effort. This expanded dataset allows for the comparison of responses
based on the shelter status of the respondents.
In Alameda County, 1,107 unsheltered people and 967 sheltered people agreed to provide
answers to survey questions, for a total of 2,074 survey respondents. Respondents could
refuse to provide answers to any questions if they did not feel comfortable providing the
information. The findings below include the percentage and number of people who provided
answers for each question and exclude respondents who did not know the answer to the
question, were not comfortable answering, or did not answer the question.
Episodes and Duration of Homelessness
First Time Experiencing Homelessness
Approximately half (49%) of those
experiencing homelessness
indicated that this was their first
time experiencing homelessness.
Unsheltered people were
experiencing homelessness for
the first time at a higher rate than
sheltered people, at 53% and
45%, respectively.
Figure 21: First Time Experiencing Homelessness
N=790
45%
53%55%47%
First Time Not First Time
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=973
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 42
Length of Time Homeless for Current
Episode
Just over half of the population experiencing homelessness in Alameda County indicated
their current episode of homelessness has been 3 years or longer. Just over one quarter
(25.5%) reported that their current episode was less than a year long. Unsheltered
households generally reported longer episodes of homelessness.
Number of Homeless Episodes in the Last
Three Years
Nearly one third of survey respondents had four or more episodes of homelessness in the
last three years (32.1%). The average number of episodes was similar between unsheltered
and sheltered populations.
Figure 23: Number of Homelessness Episodes in the Last 3 Years
N=770
Fewer than Four Four or More Times
67%69%
33%31%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=391
Figure 22: Duration of Current Episode of Homelessness
N=789
0 to 3 months
4 to 6 months
7 to 11 months
12 to 23 months
24 to 35 months
36 months or more
13%6%12%7%12%4%
16%10%12%11%
36%
62%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=989
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 43
Length of Time Living in Alameda County
Approximately two thirds of all respondents indicated they lived in the community for ten
years or longer. Only 9.5% of people interviewed reported living in the county for less than
one year. The unsheltered population reported even longer residence in Alameda County,
with 74% having lived in Alameda County for ten or more years, compared with 56%
among sheltered respondents.
Length of Time Living in City of Residence
Over half of survey respondents had not only lived in Alameda County for over ten years,
but had also been living in the same city in the county for over ten years. The unsheltered
population reported even longer residence in their current cities, with 61% having lived in
the same city for ten or more years, while this was the case with only 40% of sheltered
respondents.
Figure 24: Length of Time Living in Alameda County
N=690
Less Than 1 Year 1-4 Years 5-9 Years 10+ Years
15%
6%
17%11%12%9%
56%
74%Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=926
Figure 25: Length of Time Living in City of Residence
N=647
Less Than 1 Year 1-4 Years 5-9 Years 10+ Years
27%
9%
21%18%12%12%
40%
61%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=1,015
Figure 27: Pregnancy Status
N=200
Pregnant or Expecting a Child Not Pregnant
1%2%
99%98%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=930
Figure 28: People with Pets
N=164
Have Pets Do Not Have Pets
29%38%
71%62%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=882
Figure 26: Sexual Orientation
N=639
Straight Bisexual Gay Lesbian Queer Other Identity
96%92%
2%4%1%1%1%1%1%1%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=1,080
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 44
Sexual
Orientation
Pets Pregnancy Status
83% of survey respondents provided
information about their sexual
orientation. Of those that responded,
93.4% identified as straight and
6.6% identified as an orientation
other than straight.
Over one third survey respondents reported
having one or more pets with them.
Unsheltered people were more likely to
report living with a pet.
1.4% of survey respondents reported
that they were pregnant or expecting a
child.
Additional Demographic And Household
Information
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 45
Primary Events Contributing to
Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex issue and often several factors contribute to a person’s housing
crisis. The Point-in-Time Count survey allowed respondents to report as many responses as
necessary regarding the primary events leading to their current episode of homelessness.
As a result, the sum of percentages exceeds 100%. Responses fall into five overarching
categories, including family or relationship breakdown (40%), housing loss (24%), income
issues (20%), health issues (16%), and systemic and institutional factors (11%). People
experiencing unsheltered homelessness were more likely to report reasons related to
housing loss, and less likely to report reasons related to income, health or systemic factors.
7
Reason Shelter/Transitional
Housing
Unsheltered/Safe
Parking All
Sample Size
Family or Relationship Breakdown 40%38%40%
Argument with Family or Friend 22%16%18%
Death of Someone Close 8%6%7%
Divorce or Breakup 10%7%8%
Domestic Violence 12%9%11%
Housing Loss Related 20%25%24%
Eviction 12%16%16%
Foreclosure 2%2%2%
Rent Increase 8%7%7%
Income Related 28%15%20%
Job Loss 17%9%12%
Other Money Issues 12%5%8%
Lost Subsidy 4%2%3%
Health Related 32%8%16%
Mental Health Issues 18%2%8%
Physical Health Issues 12%2%6%
Substance Use Issues 23%4%10%
Systemic and Institutional Factors 21%5%11%
Crime Victim 6%3%4%
Racism <1%<1%<1%
Aged Out of Foster Care 2%<1%1%
Incarceration 14%2%6%
Other 0%12%8%
Table 9: Primary Reasons for Homelessness
N=465 N=953 N=1,372
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 46
Preventing Homelessness
Survey respondents were asked what interventions would have helped prevent their current
episode of homelessness. The Point-in-Time Count survey allowed respondents to report as
many responses as necessary regarding what could have prevented their current episode of
homelessness. As a result, the sum of percentages exceeds 100%.
The majority of respondents said financial assistance (e.g., rent or mortgage assistance,
benefits assistance, help with health care or insurance costs, child support) would have
prevented their homelessness, regardless of where they lived. A larger proportion of
respondents from shelter/transitional housing said health care services (e.g., mental health
services, substance use counseling) and other services assistance (e.g., food access,
transportation, legal aid) would have prevented their homelessness, compared to people
who were unsheltered.
7
Reason Shelter/Transitional
Housing
Unsheltered/Safe
Parking All
Sample Size
Financial Assistance 75%60%65%
Health Care Support 45%10%22%
Conflict Resolution 19%9%13%
Other Services Assistance (food, transportation, legal)20%7%12%
Other 15%16%16%
Table 10: Preventing Homelessness
N=453 N=851 N=1,304
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 47
Employment Status
Approximately 15% of survey respondents indicated they had full time, part time or
seasonal employment. Sheltered respondents were more likely to be employed than
unsheltered respondents.
Employment SeekingEmployment Type
Just under one third of survey respondents
reported looking for work. 21% reported
being unable to work.
Only 6% of survey respondents reported
full-time employment. Full time
employment was even less common
among unsheltered respondents.
Figure 30: Types of Employment Figure 31: Pursuit of Employment
Figure 29: Employment Status
N=668
Employed
Not Employed
19%
13%
81%
87%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=880
N=639
Full Time Part Time Seasonal Not Employed
9%
5%
9%6%
1%2%
81%
87%
Unsheltered/Safe Parking
Shelter/Transitional Housing
N=1,080
N=668
Looking for Work
Not Looking for Work
Unable to Work
Other
Employed
32%
27%
7%
13%
21%22%21%
24%
19%
13%
Unsheltered/Safe Parking
Shelter/Transitional Housing
N=880
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 48
Benefits Received
Sixty-seven percent of people experiencing homelessness who completed a survey
provided a response regarding any benefits they receive or have received over the last
twelve months. The most common benefits reported were SNAP/ Food Stamps / WIC /
CalFresh food assistance and general assistance. Approximately 16% of the population
reported they were not receiving any benefits.
Unsheltered people were less likely than sheltered people to be connected to benefits,
with 22% of unsheltered survey respondents reporting that they were not receiving any
benefits, compared with 7% of sheltered respondents.
28.9%
31.8%
Figure 32: Benefits Received
SNAP/Food
Stamps/
WIC /
Calfresh
Medical /
Medicare
General
Assistance
Not
Receiving
Benefits
SSI Part Time
Earned
Income
CalWorks
/ TANF
Full
Time
Earned
Income
Other
Veteran
Benefeits
Pension or
Retirement
VA
Disability
Child
Support,
Alimony or
Spousal
Support
26.3%
17.0%
15.5%
9.9%
6.9%6.1%
4.0%3.1%
1.4%0.7%0.6%
N=1,398
SSDI
1.1%
Unemploy-
ment
Interactions with the Criminal JusticeSystem in the Last Year
Over one third of people experiencing homelessness surveyed (37.4%) indicated that they
had an interaction with the criminal justice system during the last year. People in shelter
and transitional housing reported higher rates of interaction than those who were
unsheltered.
Education Status
Over three quarters (75.9%) of people experiencing homelessness surveyed have
completed high school or the equivalent. Over one quarter (26.6%) have pursued higher
college beyond high school.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County
49
Figure 33: Interacted with Criminal Justice in the Past Year
N=690
Interacted with System
Did Not Interact with System
41%
35%
59%
65%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=894
Figure 34: Last Grade Completed
N=511
Less than Grade 5
Grades 5-6
Grades 7-8
Grades 9-11
Grade 12/High School Diploma
Obtained GED/HiSET
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Graduate Degree
1%2%1%1%2%4%
15%21%
51%
38%
6%7%
16%17%
3%4%3%5%3%2%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=868
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 50
Unsheltered people were surveyed about their school or educational course enrollment
status. 92% of unsheltered respondents reported no current enrollment. 5% reported at
least irregular attendance.
Foster or CPS Care
12% of survey respondents indicated they had ever been in Foster Care or Child Protective
Services (CPS) care. Among youth ages 18-24, this percentage was higher, at 38%.
Sheltered respondents were more likely to report Foster or CPS care history.
Figure 36: Foster or CPS Care History
N=686
Have Been in Foster or CPS Care
Have Not Been in CPS or Foster Care
41%
35%
59%
65%
Unsheltered/Safe ParkingShelter/Transitional Housing
N=865
Figure 35: Enrollment in School Among Unsheltered Persons
Attends School Regularly
Attends School Irregularly
Suspended from School
Obtained HiSET/GED or Equivalent
Not Currently Enrolled
3%
2%
0%
4%
92%
<1%
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 51
VOLUNTEERS
Alameda County is committed to ending homelessness and that includes solutions that
emphasize the importance of equity in all its committees, decision making and policies.
As such, since 2024, the County has collected the demographics of people volunteering
to conduct surveys of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Demographic
comparisons between the population experiencing homelessness and the volunteers
conducting the Point-in-Time Count can help the county strategize targeted volunteer
recruitment, determine if surveyor bias may be impacting survey completion rates or
data collection, and if there is a need for more volunteer training related to race equity.
The county and the individual jurisdictions conducted very successful recruitment
efforts and 1,307 people registered as volunteers. Volunteers included community
members, staff from county cities and service providers, and most importantly, people
with lived experience of homelessness. In fact, nearly a quarter of the people who
volunteered to conduct surveys were formerly or currently experiencing homelessness.
Albany
Berkeley
City of Alameda
Dublin
Emeryville
Fremont
Hayward
Livermore
Newark
Oakland
Piedmont
Pleasanton
San Leandro
Unincorporated County
Union City
20
107
74
22 12
95 94
30 21
561
11 11
52
70
30
Figure 37: Volunteers by Jurisdiction
People Experiencing Homelessness Volunteers
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 52
The ages of volunteers are relatively similar to the population experiencing homelessness.
More disparity between groups exists in children under the age of 18 and adults over the
age of 65. Many communities choose not to have surveyors in the field who are under 18
unless they are with a parent. Therefore, it is not surprising to see this much of a difference
between the populations. Similarly, older adults are often more likely to be retired and
have more availability for volunteering.
Figure 38: Age Comparison Between Volunteers and Homeless Populations
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
4.8%
0.5%
4.8%5.2%
16.6%
20.3%
24.9%25.4%
23.2%21.9%
18.3%16.9%
7.5%
9.8%
Volunteer Age
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 53
Volunteer Race
Black, African, and African American people disproportionately comprise the homeless
population (42.4%), yet only 10.4% of volunteers identified as such. Asian, Multi-Racial, and
White people had higher representation in the pool of volunteers than the representation in the
population experiencing homelessness. The racial and ethnic composition of the 2026 PIT
Count volunteers aligns much more closely with the makeup of the general population in
Alameda County than it does with that of the population experiencing homelessness.
People Experiencing Homelessness Volunteers
Figure 40: Race Comparison Between Volunteers and Homeless Populations
AMERICAN
INDIAN/ALASKA
NATIVE
ASIAN
1.2%
3.7%
42.4%
21.9%
0.8%
4.0%
1.3%
24.7%
0.5%
11.3%10.4%
12.4%
0.8%
22.4%
0.9%
41.3%
BLACK, AFRICAN
AMERICAN, OR
AFRICAN
HISPANIC OR
LATINA/E/O
MIDDLE EASTERN
/NORTH AFRICAN
MULTIPLE
RACES
NATIVE HAWAIIAN/
PACIFIC ISLANDER WHITE
Volunteer Gender
Most of the volunteers in Alameda County this year were men (59.4%), although they make up
a smaller majority of the volunteer population than the population experiencing homelessness.
People Experiencing Homelessness Volunteers
Figure 39: Gender Comparison Between Volunteers and Homeless Populations
Woman/Girl Man/Boy Additional Identities
31.7%
36.9%
66.5%
59.4%
1.6%3.7%
CONCLUSION
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 54
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count brought good news to Alameda County. For the second Count in
a row, the number of people experiencing homelessness fell — 13% since the 2024 Count and
16% since 2022. This represents 1,500 fewer people found to be experiencing homelessness on
a given day than four years ago. Fewer people experiencing homelessness were unsheltered
than in the past, with unsheltered homelessness down 27%.
These high-level trends are a welcome development after many years of rising homelessness,
and they offer a strong foundation to build from. But homelessness in our community is still far
too high, and housing loss remains far too common. Even with this progress, nearly two-thirds
of people experiencing homelessness remain unsheltered, living in cars or RVs, on the streets,
in tents, and in other places that are not safe. Homelessness does not affect our community
equally: many populations, particularly Black residents, remain dramatically overrepresented
among people experiencing homelessness. And while overall homelessness fell, the number of
people experiencing chronic homelessness — unhoused for long periods and living with chronic
health conditions or disabilities — grew.
There is much more work to be done. The voters of Alameda County provided resources through
Measure W to help address this continuing human crisis, and today those resources are being
put to work. The County, the cities, and nonprofit partners have together brought additional
resources to the community to provide services, create shelter, and build the housing we need
to keep bending the curve and bring down homelessness further.
The guiding strategy for this work is the Home Together plan. Home Together 2026, which
concludes this year, laid the groundwork for our efforts, and our community is beginning to see
the results. Home Together 2030 will recommit the County and our partners to sustaining this
progress, outlining the strategies we will follow to create and continue operating the housing,
services, and resources needed to maintain and accelerate our impact. Home Together 2030 is
a community-driven plan, developed through the work of dozens of people on the Home
Together Task Force and technical working groups — including people with lived experience of
homelessness — who came together to refine our approach, set joint goals, and report
transparently on progress. The Plan sets ambitious goals to reduce overall homelessness by
33% and unsheltered homelessness by 50%. These goals are achievable with sustained local
investment, stable federal and state partnership, coordination across local jurisdictions, and
balanced implementation across all sections of the plan.
We publish this Count report in a moment of uncertainty. Changes in the federal funding
landscape, and at the state level, will affect our work through known policy changes and grant
reductions, and possibly in ways we cannot yet foresee. In the face of this uncertainty, this
community remains committed to defending the progress we have made, continuing the
struggle for racial equity and housing for all, and sustaining the positive trends that will bring
us all Home, Together.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 55
APPENDIX A: Count Methodologies
Sheltered Count
GOAL: The goal of the sheltered count is to obtain an accurate count of people
experiencing sheltered homelessness in Alameda County, including those staying in
emergency shelters, transitional housing and Safe Haven programs on the night of the
Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.
In addition to producing an accurate count, the 2026 PIT Count expanded data collection
efforts to include a survey of people staying in sheltered settings. Previously administered
only to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, the survey was extended for the
first time to residents of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and other
temporary housing programs. This enhancement nearly doubled the number of survey
responses collected and provides a more comprehensive understanding of homelessness
across Alameda County.
Collecting survey data from both sheltered and unsheltered residents allows for direct
comparisons between the experiences of these populations and helps identify differences
in service needs, barriers to stability, health outcomes, and pathways out of homelessness.
These findings support more informed planning, resource allocation, and evaluation of
shelter and housing programs throughout the county.
DEFINITION: For the purposes of this study, the HUD definition of sheltered homelessness
for PIT Counts was used. This definition includes individuals and families living in a
supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living
arrangements such as emergency or transitional shelters or Safe Haven facilities.
RESEARCH DESIGN: All shelter data were gathered either directly from the shelter
including domestic violence programs or from the county’s Homeless Management
Information System, except one shelter program that was unresponsive after numerous
attempts and whose data were imputed using average occupancy and demographic data.
Only programs listed on the Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) that were operational on the
night of the Count were included.
In addition to administrative data collection, a survey was administered to a sample of
individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and other
temporary housing programs. The survey mirrored the instrument used with unsheltered
respondents, enabling direct comparisons across housing situations. Survey participation
was voluntary, and respondents could decline to answer any question they were not
comfortable answering.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 56
DATA COLLECTION: To collect data on individuals staying in shelters, Simtech worked closely
with County HMIS staff and shelter providers. The County collected information from all
emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, Safe Haven facilities, and other eligible
temporary housing programs operating in Alameda County on the night of the Count.
Consistent with HUD reporting requirements, data included information on household
composition, age, gender, race and ethnicity, veteran status, chronic homelessness status, and
selected health conditions. Data were reviewed, cleaned, and validated by HMIS staff and
program operators to ensure accuracy and completeness.
The sheltered survey collected additional information directly from program participants
regarding their experiences with homelessness, service utilization, barriers to housing stability,
health and wellness, and other topics not available through administrative records. Because
participation was voluntary, respondents could skip any question or decline to provide an
answer. Throughout this report, percentages and counts are based only on respondents who
provided an answer to a given question. Individuals who selected "don't know," declined to
answer, or left a question blank are excluded from the calculation of reported percentages
unless otherwise noted.
Fully canvassing a large Continuum of Care (CoC) such as Alameda County for the point-in-time
homeless census would require a tremendous number of surveyors. Fortunately, HUD supports
a “geographic sampling and enumeration” model that enables regions to derive a statistically
reliable point-in-time count estimate without necessitating the entire community to be
canvassed. The reporting logic used within the Regional Command Center to support this
model was developed by Simtech Solutions Inc. in collaboration with statistician and University
of Pennsylvania professor, Dan Treglia, PhD. HUD has since authored the How to Use Sampling
within a CoC to Conduct an Accurate Unsheltered Count paper which aligns with Simtech’s
approach.
Sampling Strategy
A stratified random sample was employed to estimate the number of unsheltered people
experiencing homelessness across the entire CoC. This approach required designating each of
the 378 census are block groups within the geographic boundaries of the COC as either “high”
or “low” based on the probability of finding a person experiencing homelessness in that census
tract. All high-probability areas, and a random sample of low-probability areas, were canvassed
during the PIT count.
Unsheltered Count
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 57
The high probability designations were based on results from the previous year’s count and
institutional knowledge from outreach staff. The “Known Locations Survey” was used in the
weeks leading up to the count to identify areas known to contain people experiencing
homelessness (PEH).For Alameda County, Simtech worked with Jurisdictional Leads to
coordinate with street outreach teams, first responders, people who are either currently or
formerly homeless to identify areas that are likely to contain people experiencing
homelessness (PEH). These stakeholders were provided with training on how to capture the
location information through the usage of a “Known Location Survey” that was added to the
Counting Us mobile app. The data gathered was used to designate a total of 200 of the 378
census tracts in which at least three (3) people were counted – all of which were marked as
high-probability census tracts.
Sampling Low-Probability Census Area BlockGroups
The low-probability census area block groups to be canvassed are chosen through a random,
computer-generated sample of all census area block groups that were not previously
designated as High Probability areas. For Alameda County, there are 378 total census tracts,
205 of which were designated as High Probability and zero (0) indicated to be in an area not
suitable for human habitation. This left a total of 173 low-probability areas to be randomly
sampled.
FIGURE 1 – CENSUS TRACTS WERE DESIGNATED AS “HIGH PROBABILITY” BY REFERRING TO
LOCATIONS FROM KNOWN LOCATION SURVEYS. THESE ARE THE AREAS IN ORANGE ON THE MAP.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 58
Randomly Selecting Tracts in the CommandCenter
Based on the determination of the number of low-
probability census tracts to be sampled, the
“Randomly Select Tracts” function within the
Command Center was then used to determine
which of the tracts are to be canvassed and which
are to be ignored. The resulting tract designation
is shown below.
Simtech used the formula to the right to estimate
the predicted precision of the count estimate, within
each CoC, for any given sample size. Fortunately,
there are free tools such as
https://www.calculator.net/sample-size-calculator
to help Count Administrators determine the size of
the sample that is needed. For Alameda County, the
Determining the Number of Low ProbabilityCensus Area Block Groups to be Sampled
Confidence Level of 95% and a Margin of Error of 10% were used. This resulted in 63 of the
175 census tracts needing to be randomly sampled. This means 63 or more tracts need to be
canvassed to have a confidence level of 95% that the real value is within ±10% of the
measured/surveyed value. 68 were chosen to provide some flexibility during the count
process in the event issues arise with canvassing some areas.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 59
The Role of the Weighting Factor in DerivingEstimated Count Figures
The Low Probability Weighting Factor is a simple calculation derived by dividing the total
number of low-probability census area block groups by the number of low-probability tracts to
be sampled. For example, for Alameda County, the weighting factor is 173/67 or 2.582. After all
low-probability areas that have been randomly selected are canvassed, the count results from
these areas are multiplied by the weighting factor to derive estimated count figures for all low-
probability tracts in the region.
Enumeration of Count Results
Sampling weights, estimates, and confidence intervals are applied differently to high and low
probability census area block groups to produce final estimates. Since all high-probability
census area block groups are to be fully canvassed, there are no sample weighting factors or
confidence intervals applied. The weighting factor is applied to survey figures from the low-
probability census area block groups to be sampled to derive estimated figures for all low-
probability census area block groups.
To ensure the methodological rigor of the PIT estimate, only surveys from areas designated as
high probability, or are within low probability census area block groups to be sampled, are
included in the results calculation. Surveys from outside of the boundaries of these designated
tracts are not included in the results, as doing so would remove the randomness of the random
sample.
The sampling setup resulted in 205 total high-probability census tracts (shown in orange), 67
randomly selected low-probability tracts (shown in blue), and 106 tracts to be ignored (no
coloring).
The interim results for Alameda County, after this step was completed, are shown below.
Estimated Number of Homeless, before applying weighting for Vehicles and Makeshift Shelter estimates
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 60
A total of 1349 people registered to participate in Alameda’s 2026 homeless count, which was
focused on the morning of January 22, 2026 with targeted follow-ups by outreach staff in the
days that followed. During the count, a total of 1970 people were counted in the high-
probability areas and 127 were counted in the 67 sampled low-probability areas. The count of
127 from the randomly selected low probability tracts was multiplied by the Weighting Factor
of 2.582 to derive an estimate of 327.9 people for all low-probability census tracts.
Deriving Estimated Counts of People Living inVehicles and Makeshift Shelters
The count estimates from the prior step were adjusted further to include the estimates of
people experiencing homelessness (PEH) believed to have been living in Vehicles and Makeshift
Shelters (VMS) that appear to be serving as temporary living situations for people who cannot
be engaged. The process for deriving estimates of people living in these situations is as follows:
Averages of people sleeping in each vehicle and makeshift shelter type are derived. To
calculate these averages, the additional question of “Including yourself, how many people are
sleeping in this location?” is asked of anyone who responds to the “Where did you sleep during
the night of the count?” question with
any living situation that is either a
type of vehicle or a makeshift shelter.
For instances with three (3) or less
people surveyed for the living
situation, national averages derived
from the sixty-eight (70) regions that
used Counting Us for the 2026 count,
are applied. These averages, and the
sample size for each, are shown to the
right.
Surveyors use the Vehicle/Makeshift Shelter Tally to count any of these living situations that
are believed to contain people sleeping in them who cannot be engaged. In adherence to the
guidance from the HUD Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Notice,
these structures are only included in the count estimates if the answer to the question “Please
indicate whether or not the vehicle or structure appears to be actively being used or if it
appears abandoned?” is not “Appears Abandoned”.
The averages derived from the surveys are multiplied by the total counts for each structure
type. The total estimates for each vehicle and structure type are added together to create a
total estimated count of people living in VMS for the region.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 61
Deriving Estimates in Sub-Regions
These totals are subsequently weighted based on whether the vehicle or structure was in a low
or high-probability area that was designated to be canvassed, as shown in the report image
below. This produced an estimated count of 3327 people (3016.6 in high probability tracts and
310 in low probability
tracts).
Since the number of census area block groups within a sub-region such as a city or town is an
insufficient sample size for the purposes of estimations, the estimates for these sub-regions
are derived from the estimates calculated at the CoC level. These estimates are based on the
number of people counted in high-probability census area block groups within the subregion
combined with the weighted average number of people estimated in the low-probability sample.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 62
For the Berkeley region, 135 people were counted in “high probability” census area block
groups. The weighted average for the low-probability block groups is calculated by multiplying
the count estimate for all low-probability block groups in the COC (127) with the percentage of
low-probability block groups that exist within the sub-region. For Berkeley, the twenty-two (22)
low-probability block groups comprise 12.72% of the 67 sampled low-probability block groups.
This sub-region percentage is multiplied by the count estimate of 127 people for the entire CoC
to derive a sub-region estimate of 41.71 people. The final count estimate is derived by adding
this figure to the 135 people counted in high-probability block groups to derive an estimate of
176.71.
Management and Oversight
A survey-first approach that utilizes geographic sampling and enumeration approach requires
more planning and surveyor resources than a blitz count followed by surveying a random
sample of PEH. The approach is worth the extra effort as it increases the accuracy of the count
while providing greater depth of information to improve our collective understanding of the
homeless population. This was largely made possible with the assistance of “Jurisdiction
Leads” from each city and town. These leaders were guided through a facilitated process to
help recruit surveyors, identify known locations of people experiencing homelessness, train
surveyors, manage the count locally, and support any data cleanup needed. Key resources for
Jurisdictional Leads, including details of their roles and responsibilities, training schedule,
training videos, volunteer recruitment materials, and other support materials can be found
here.
Outreach staff used a “known location survey” within the Counting Us app, 211 call information,
and GIS data of known encampment locations in the months before the count to designate
census tracts likely to contain people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This information,
along with the knowledge of how long it would take to complete the expanded survey, helped
inform the number of surveyors that needed to be recruited. The jurisdiction leaders did a
stellar job with this and recruited 1,349 surveyors, compared to the 1,278 who participated in
the 2024 PIT count. This is a stark contrast to the 480 surveyors who participated in 2022,
before this approach was adopted. This is largely a result of the efforts of jurisdictional leaders
and the communities they represent.
These surveyors were assigned to a jurisdiction within the County and a count team within the
jurisdiction. Team sizes were informed by the known location data, the size of each census
tract, and the number of tracts designated for sampling.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 63
Surveyors were provided with live virtual training, recorded videos, and documentation to
ensure they were well prepared for the count. This preparation included how to engage people
in a manner that is both culturally sensitive and trauma-informed, when to use each survey, and
how to use the Counting Us app. Within the Counting Us app, surveyors were provided details of
who their team leader was, who else was on their team, where to meet, and what their
designated coverage areas were.
Jurisdictional, CoC leads, and Simtech Solutions’ staff monitored the incoming data via the
Regional Command Center and used the real-time data capture to help ensure each community
was properly canvassed and the incoming data was of high quality. If a jurisdictional lead had
questions or a surveyor had an issue, the lead was able to connect with Simtech Solutions staff
via a virtual help desk.
In the days following the count, large encampments that required additional time to fully
canvas were revisited by outreach staff. Survey results were subsequently matched against
data that had already been collected in HMIS using the person’s name and date of birth. Any
data missing from the PIT survey for which a value existed in HMIS was updated. The data was
also screened for potential duplicates using an algorithm that looks at personally identifiable
information as well as the location of each survey.
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Race (Adults and Children)
Households with at Least One Adult and One Child
Emergency Households and Age Breakdown Shelter
148
491
278
26
81
65
37
4
0
Total Persons (Adults & Children)
Emergency
Shelter
4
7
6
1
218
18
111
6
0
7
1
39
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
51
154
90
14
24
18
5
3
0
Transitional
Housing
0
1
1
0
110
3
17
0
0
2
0
6
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
0
0
0
0
3
0
9
0
0
0
0
6
Total
206
663
376
40
109
87
44
7
0
Total
4
8
7
1
331
21
137
6
0
9
1
51
Total Number ofHouseholds
Number of Children (under age 18)
Number of Youth (age 18-24)
Number of Adults (25-34)
Number of Adults (35-44)
Number of Adults (45-54)
Number of Adults (55-64)
Number of Adults (65 and Over)
American Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
7
18
8
0
4
4
2
0
0
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
APPENDIX B: HDX Tables Submitted to HUD
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 64
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o 17
15
41
72
231
2
3
9
0
0
0
0
0
4
13
19
18
50
76
244
Chronically Homeless Emergency
Shelter
Transitional
Housing Unsheltered Total
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 65
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Race
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Chronically Homeless
Households without Children
Households and Age Breakdown Emergency
Shelter
1752
1777
73
236
387
384
451
246
Emergency
Shelter
19
24
85
3
799
22
197
13
0
29
3
405
98
11
69
Emergency
Shelter
1356
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
547
550
154
95
105
87
60
49
Transitional
Housing
9
3
7
0
317
10
82
3
0
10
4
67
17
7
14
Transitional
Housing
0
Safe Haven
26
26
1
1
4
4
8
8
Safe Haven
0
0
1
0
12
0
2
0
0
0
0
7
1
1
2
Unsheltered
4913
5171
127
918
1459
1381
971
315
Unsheltered
63
33
200
9
2014
25
930
45
0
58
7
1486
67
37
197
Safe Haven
5
Unsheltered
2483
Total
7238
7524
355
1250
1955
1856
1490
618
Total
91
60
293
12
3142
57
1211
61
0
97
14
1965
183
56
282
Total
3844Total Number of Persons
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons (Adults)
Number of Youth (age 18-24)
Number of Adults (25-34)
Number of Adults (35-44)
Number of Adults (45-54)
Number of Adults (55-64)
Number of Adults (65+)
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 66
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Race
Chronically Homeless
Households with only Children (under age 18)
Emergency Households and Age Breakdown Shelter
1
1
Emergency
Shelter
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Emergency
Shelter
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
0
0
Transitional
Housing
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Transitional
Housing
Safe
Haven
0
0
Safe
Haven
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Safe
Haven
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
Total
12
14
Total
Total
Total Number of Persons
Total Number ofHouseholds
Total Children (<18)
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
8
11
13
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 67
0 0 0
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Race (Adults and Children)
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
ALL SHELLS (NOT FOR HUD SUBMISSION)
Emergency Households and Age Breakdown Shelter
1901
2269
279
99
317
452
421
455
246
Emergency
Shelter
23
31
91
4
1017
40
309
19
0
36
4
444
115
26
110
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
598
704
90
168
119
123
92
63
49
Transitional
Housing
9
4
8
0
427
13
99
3
0
12
4
73
19
10
23
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
63
33
200
9
2017
25
930
45
0
58
7
1496
67
37
197
Total
7456
8201
391
395
1359
2042
1900
1497
618
Total
95
68
300
13
3473
78
1340
67
0
106
15
2020
202
74
332
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons
Number of Children (under 18)
Number of Youth (age 18-24)
Number of Adults (25-34)
Number of Adults (35-44)
Number of Adults (45-54)
Number of Adults (55-64)
Number of Adults (65 and Over)
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
California
CA-502 - Oakland,
Berkeley/Alameda County
4931
5202
21
127
922
1463
1383
971
315
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 68
Sex
Chronically Homeless
Gender (Adults and Children)
Additional Homeless Populations
Additional Homeless Populations
Emergency
Shelter
72
1587
Emergency
Shelter
1133
824
50
315
Emergency
Shelter
0
0
Emergency
Shelter
897
1347
0
Trans.
Housing
207
134
9
66
Transitional
Housing
0
0
Transitional
Housing
0
0
Transitional
Housing
236
457
0
3
7
0
0
1
Unsheltered
4
2504
Unsheltered
1773
1315
106
697
Unsheltered
1341
3843
Unsheltered
84
112
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
76
4096
Total
3124
2275
165
1078
Total
1341
3843
Total
1217
1942
0
14
15
0
0
6
Female
Male
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons
Adults with a Serious Mental Illness
Adults with a Substance Use Disorder
Adults with HIV/AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence
Woman (Girl, if Child)
Man (Boy, if Child)
Culturally Specific Identity
Transgender
Non-Binary
Questioning
Different Identity
More Than One Gender
11
8
0
0
5
Of those that selected More Than One Gender, how many reported gender identities that:
Includes Woman (Girl, if Child)
Includes Man (Boy, if Child)
Includes Culturally Specific Identity
Includes Transgender
Includes Non-Binary
Includes Questioning
Includes Different Identity
2
3
0
4
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Number of Adults 1990 614 5181
2
4
0
5
0
1
0
7811
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 69
Veterans
Chronically Homeless
Unaccompanied Youth
Percentages of All Adults
Additional Homeless Populations Emergency
Shelter
56.9%
41.4%
2.5%
15.8%
Emergency
Shelter
1587
79.7%
Emergency
Shelter
31
1.6%
Emergency
Shelter
74
2269
3.3%
Trans.
Housing
33.7%
21.8%
1.5%
10.7%
Trans.
Housing
0
0.0%
Trans.
Housing
83
13.5%
Trans.
Housing
153
704
21.7%
Unsheltered
34.2%
25.4%
2.0%
13.5%
Unsheltered
2504
48.3%
Unsheltered
396
7.6%
Unsheltered
133
5202
2.6%
Total
40.0%
29.1%
2.1%
13.8%
Total
4091
52.4%
Total
535
6.8%
Total
361
2275
15.9%
Total Chronic
% of Adults
Total Veterans
% of Adults
Total Unaccompanied Youth
Total People
% of Total People
Adults with a Serious Mental Illness
Adults with a Substance Use Disorder
Adults with HIV/AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 70
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Total number of Households
Total number of Persons
Total number of Veterans
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
1
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
2
5
2
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
0
0
0
0
3
0
5
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
1
5
3
10
3
Race (Veterans Only)
Chronically Homeless
Emergency
Shelter
Emergency
Shelter
REPORTING ENTITY
Veteran Households with at Least One Adult and One Child
Emergency
Shelter
Transitional Household and Age Breakdown Housing
Transitional
Housing
Transitional
Housing
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
Unsheltered
Total
Total
Total
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 71
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Race (Veterans Only)
Chronically Homeless
Veteran Households without Children
Household and Age Breakdown Emergency
Shelter
30
30
30
Emergency
Shelter
0
0
2
0
13
0
1
0
0
0
0
12
0
1
1
Emergency
Shelter
15
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
81
81
81
Transitional
Housing
4
0
1
0
41
0
5
0
0
1
2
21
1
0
5
Transitional
Housing
0
Safe
Haven
25
25
25
Safe
Haven
0
0
1
0
11
0
2
0
0
0
0
7
1
1
2
Safe
Haven
5
Unsheltered
396
411
396
Unsheltered
0
5
11
0
149
5
43
0
0
16
0
102
0
0
65
Unsheltered
249
Total
532
547
532
Total
4
5
15
0
214
5
51
0
0
17
2
142
2
2
73
Total
269Total Number of Persons
Total Number of Households
Total Number of Persons
Total Number of Veterans
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 72
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Unsheltered
Race
Chronically Homeless
Unaccompanied Youth Households
Households and Age Breakdown Emergency
Shelter
73
74
1
73
Emergency
Shelter
2
0
2
0
45
2
12
0
0
0
0
6
1
0
4
Emergency
Shelter
48
REPORTING ENTITY
Trans.
Housing
152
153
0
153
Trans.
Housing
4
2
2
0
98
5
25
1
0
1
1
3
3
3
5
Trans.
Housing
0
Safe Haven
1
1
0
1
Safe Haven
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Safe Haven
0
Unsheltered
126
133
13
120
Unsheltered
15
Total
352
361
14
347
Total
6
2
8
0
183
7
70
1
0
1
1
55
8
3
16
Total
63
Unaccompanied Youth Households
Unaccompanied Youth
Unaccompanied Children (<18)
Unaccompanied Youth (18-24)
0
0
4
0
39
0
33
0
0
0
0
46
4
0
7
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
Total Number of Persons
California
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 73
State:
Continuum of Care:
Count Date:
Region:
Chronically Homeless
Race (Youth Parents)
Parenting Youth Households
Households and Age Breakdown Emergency
Shelter
8
26
9
17
0
0
9
17
Emergency
Shelter
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Emergency
Shelter
2
5
REPORTING ENTITY
Transitional
Housing
9
22
9
13
0
0
9
13
Transitional
Housing
0
1
0
0
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Transitional
Housing
0
0
Unsheltered
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unsheltered
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unsheltered
0
0
Total
17
48
18
30
0
0
18
30
Total
0
1
0
0
14
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Total
2
5
Amer. Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous
Asian or Asian American
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Black, African American, or African
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
White
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial & Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Multi-Racial (not Hispanic/Latina/e/o)
+ Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Total Number of Parenting Youth Households
Total Number of Persons
Total Parenting Youth
Total Children in Parenting Youth Households
Parenting Youth Under Age 18
Children with Parenting Under Age 18
Number of Parenting Youth (Age 18 to 24)
Number of Children with Parenting Youth
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda
County
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
Total Number of Parenting Youth Households
Total Number of Parenting Youth
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 74
State:
Continuum of Care:
Additional Homeless Populations
Additional Homeless Populations
Count Date:
Region:
California
CA-502 - Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda County
1/22/2026
Entire CoC
Veterans
Unacommpanied Youth
Percentages of All Adults
Additional Homeless Populations
% with Severe Mental Illness
% with Substance Use Disorder
% with HIV/AIDS
(Adults)
Emergency
Shelter
1133
824
50
315
1990
Emergency
Shelter
56.9%
41.4%
2.5%
15.8%
Emergency
Shelter
31
1.6%
Emergency
Shelter
74
2269
3.3%
Trans.
Housing
207
134
9
66
614
Trans.
Housing
33.7%
21.8%
1.5%
10.7%
Trans.
Housing
83
13.5%
Trans.
Housing
153
704
21.7%
REPORTING ENTITY
Safe Haven Unsheltered
Safe Haven Unsheltered
Safe Haven Unsheltered
Safe Haven Unsheltered
Total
3124
2275
165
1078
7811
Total
40.0%
29.1%
2.1%
13.8%
Total
553
7.1%
Total
361
8201
4.4%
Total # of Veterans
% of Adults
Total Unaccompanied Youth
Total People
% of All People
with SeriousMental Illness
with Substance Use Disorder
with HIV/AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence
Total Number of Adults
% Victims of Domestic Violence
1
26
3.8%
42.3%
7.7%
0.0%
0.0%
25
96.2%
34.2%
25.4%
2.0%
13.5%
414
8.0%
133
0
-
1773
1315
106
697
5181
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 75
11
2
0
0
26
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 76
APPENDIX C: Survey Instrument
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 77
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 78
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 79
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 80
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 81
2026 Point-in-Time Count Report for Alameda County 82
APPENDIX D: Interactive Dashboardsfor Further Analysis
To explore the 2026 Alameda County Point-in-Time Count data in further detail, please access
the two interactive dashboards linked below:
1.Alameda County Point-in-Time Count Dashboard
(https://pointintime.info/dashboards/alameda/)
2.Alameda County 2026 Survey Insights
(https://pointintime.info/dashboards/alameda/survey-insights-2026/)