The 2026 survey to gauge homelessness in Orange County reported a 13.7% reduction — including a 26.6% decline in unsheltered homeless — compared with the count two years ago, officials announced Monday.
This year’s survey by officials and volunteers was a milestone because for the first time more people were found in shelters or transitional housing programs than those living on the streets and other unsheltered circumstances, according to Doug Becht, director of the county Office of Care Coordination.
Becht said Monday the “incredibly meaningful” finding demonstrated that most people experiencing homelessness want services to get shelter and housing.
The biannual count found 6,321 people without a home. Of those, 3,256 were in emergency shelters or a transitional housing program and 3,065 were living unsheltered.
The shelter population increased 3% compared with 2024, which Becht said was expected with the expansion of services. A shortage of affordable housing units causes some in transitional housing programs or shelters to remain in them longer, he added.
Seeing more people in shelters and housing programs was “encouraging progress” indicating the county’s homeless services programs throughout the past 10 years are working, Becht said.
However, he cited a “cascade effect” to the housing shortage — those who are ready to make the move from transient to permanent housing are taking up a spot for someone ready to enter a program, Becht said.
The Point In Time count was conducted from Jan. 26-29 throughout the county with 30 to 40 staff members part of each shift, Becht said.
The county has seen an 8% reduction in homelessness since 2019 that included the coronavirus pandemic, according to count data.
“The Orange County (Continuum of Care) has utilized state and federal funding to operate emergency shelter programs, provide homelessness prevention assistance and offer permanent housing support,” Maricela Rious‑Faust, Orange County Continuum of Care Board chair, said in a statement. “Investments in these evidenced-based and proven solutions as well as the hard work and dedication of homeless service providers contributed to this decrease, and we should take a moment to celebrate the progress made.”
Rious-Faust added, “While this progress is encouraging, the Orange County CoC Board recognizes that there is still significant work ahead to ensure every individual, youth and family experiencing homelessness have access to safe housing, supportive services and pathways toward long-term stability.”
In the northern area of the county, volunteers and staff in January found 2,894 people experiencing homelessness. The central section had 2,919 people lacking shelter or housing and in the southern part 508 were unhoused.
Among other findings:
- of the total individuals counted in 2026, 206 were veterans, 245 were 18 to 24 years old, and 882 were seniors 62 and older;
- the 3,065 unsheltered were comprised of 140 veterans, 93 people between 18 and 24 years old and 361 seniors;
- of the 3,256 sheltered individuals, 66 were veterans, 152 were 18 to 24 years old and 521 were seniors;
- 28.91% of the unsheltered population was female;
- 45.55% of the sheltered population was female;
- those characterized as chronically homeless, 41.11% were unsheltered and 53.78% were in some sort of shelter;
- the survey also showed 45.04% of the unsheltered population and 26.04% in shelter programs have a substance abuse disorder;
- 34.82% of the unsheltered population has a physical disability, and the number was at 28.62% for those in shelter programs;
- 32.89% of unsheltered county residents struggle with serious mental illness, while 37,85% of the sheltered population struggle mental health disorders;
- 63.56% of the homeless population were unemployed, while 13.31% were employed part-time or full-time, and 13.46% were retired or disabled;
- 52% said finances were the cause of their homelessness, and 20.18% said they were homeless because of relationship problems with family or a partner;
- Nearly 11% blamed their circumstances on health and safety factors, including a medical crisis, physical or mental health problems or substance use.
Unhoused Anaheim residents totaled 1,432, with 541 unsheltered, while Santa Ana’s homeless population totaled 714, with 601 unsheltered, the county reported.
In 2024, Anaheim’s homeless population was 1,417, with 601 unsheltered. Santa Ana, however, saw a considerably large decrease of about half — 1,428 total with 871 unsheltered two years ago.
The full report is available on the county’s website.
Assessing the unhoused population impacts the amount of federal and state funding cities and counties receive to address homelessness.
Orange County’s overall population is between 3.1 million and 3.2 million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
