El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells voiced strong criticism on Friday regarding the Regional Task Force on Homelessness’ annual Point-In-Time Count, asserting that the reported figures for homelessness in his city were “inflated” and “inaccurate.”
The results, released earlier this week, indicated a notable rise in homelessness within El Cajon, spotlighting this city as the only one in the region to record significant increases both in percentage and raw numbers of unsheltered individuals.
According to the report, the count of unsheltered individuals in El Cajon surged from 283 to 344, marking a 21.6% increase.
Wells highlighted concerns that the county’s count included individuals beyond city limits and accounted for people placed in El Cajon hotels as part of an unsuccessful hotel voucher program.
He further stated that surveyors may have miscounted, alleging that some did not exit their vehicles while conducting the count.
“Our Homeless Outreach Team and volunteers found the numbers baffling – and far higher than reality,” Wells remarked, emphasizing his belief that errors such as double counting may have contributed to the inflated figures.
He criticized the “housing first” policies pursued at the state and county levels, which advocate for placing individuals in housing before addressing underlying issues like mental illness or substance abuse.
Wells stated, “We are a solutions-first city, focused on treatment, accountability, and public safety – not just warehousing people in hotels or ignoring the problem entirely.”
He reinforced that El Cajon aims to lead in compassionate responses to homelessness, asserting that misleading numbers from the count should not distract from their work and commitment.
In contrast, the annual countywide homeless count revealed a decrease in homelessness overall, citing a 7% drop across the county and approximately 14% in the city of San Diego.
Tamera Kohler, CEO of the RTFH, commented on the encouraging progress reflected in the results, noting the investments made by local governments and organizations that have led to declines in veteran and family homelessness.
Kohler also stressed the need for continued efforts, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by individuals living in their vehicles and expressing a desire for more landlords and apartment owners to participate in housing initiatives.
This year’s findings identified a total of 9,905 individuals experiencing homelessness across the county, a decrease from 10,605 last year. The count revealed 5,714 people living unsheltered and 4,191 in shelters or transitional housing.
A statement from the RTFH declared, “The data show noteworthy reductions in several cities resulting from a series of investments, partnerships, and effective practices.”
Further decreases were observed in various other municipalities, including Carlsbad with a 15% decline, Encinitas at 12%, Oceanside and La Mesa decreasing by 9%, and Chula Vista showing a 6% reduction.
In the previous year’s count, homelessness had already surged by an estimated 3%, while the 2023 figures had indicated a staggering 20% rise in the overall numbers.
Among the demographic data, the number of homeless senior citizens—constituting one-third of all homeless individuals in the region—showed a 5% increase, with many experiencing homelessness for the first time.
The count recorded the oldest person found unsheltered this year as an 80-year-old white male, compared to an 85-year-old Hispanic woman from last year’s count.
The data also showed a 7% increase in individuals living in vehicles, while the number of transitional age youth experiencing homelessness (ages 18-24) decreased by 22%.
Family homelessness saw a dramatic 72% reduction, and veteran homelessness also declined significantly, dropping by 25%.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, even safe sleeping and safe parking sites are counted among the unsheltered.
As part of the annual count, volunteers engage with those experiencing homelessness, collecting demographic information, including the recording of Hispanic ethnicity alongside race for the first time in this year’s report.
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