Pasadena Homeless Population Dips

Homelessness in Pasadena remains largely unchanged from figures during the 2019 homeless count, according to a report to be presented by the Department of Housing to the Pasadena City Council on Monday. 

On the night of the 2020 Homeless Count, from January 21 to 22, there were a total of 527 people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena, which remains relatively unchanged from the 542 people recorded in 2019. 

Although there was little movement in the count numbers this year – about negative three percent – Pasadena’s numbers in the context of the county and state’s two-digit increases are “of noteworthy success,” the Department of Housing said.

While the exact number of people experiencing homelessness fluctuates on a daily basis, Pasadena’s numbers are generally holding stable following a steady downward trend since 2011, the report said. 

The Homeless Count measures the prevalence of homelessness in Pasadena on a single night within the last ten days of January, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

To collect the figures for the “unsheltered” count, community volunteers and professional outreach teams survey people sleeping outdoors, on the street, in parks and vehicles, and other areas not meant for human habitation. 

The “sheltered” count, on the other hand, uses client-level data entered into the database used by homeless service providers to collect information on people who are staying in temporary shelter locations, including congregate emergency shelters, transitional housing, and hotels or motels. 

People who are living doubled-up with family or friends or who are couch surfing are not included in the count, as the HUD considers these individuals to be at-risk of homelessness and not literally homeless. 

The county also found that the number of people staying in emergency shelters in the City has gradually increased and is up five percent compared to 2019, while the number of people who are living in unsheltered locations has decreased by approximately eight percent, which the Housing Department said is “promising movement.” 

“This shift comes on the heels of a significant infusion of one-time emergency funding to the City from the State that has increased shelter capacity through the provision of hotel and motel voucher resources,” the report said. “As such, more people are able to sleep inside and take refuge from the streets while moving forward on their path to permanent housing.” 

January’s Homeless County also found that Pasadena’s senior population experiencing homelessness has continued to rise, reporting a 27 percent increase in the number of people 62 years of age or older who were homeless compared to 2019, comprising approximately 14 percent of the total population. 

Likewise, older adults aged 55 and up make up 30 percent of Pasadena’s homeless population and 40 percent of the chronically homeless population compared to other age groups.  

More than half – 54 percent – of Pasadena’s homeless were long-term residents before they lost their housing, the report said. On average, the City’s homeless lived in Pasadena for 21 years prior to losing their housing. 

Data from the count also showed 31 percent of people experiencing homelessness identified as black or African-American, although the group represents only 10 percent of Pasadena’s general population according to American Community Survey (ACS) Census Bureau data. 

The survey also showed this is the second consecutive year where zero families were recorded as experiencing unsheltered homelessness at the time of the count. There were 24 families with children experiencing homelessness who were staying in emergency shelter, representing five percent of the total homeless population – which mirrors results from 2019. 

After Monday’s City Council meeting, the full 2020 Homeless Count report will be available for public viewing on the Pasadena Partnership to End Homelessness website, www.pasadenapartnership.org/homeless-count-reports.