HOMELESSNESS IS A HOUSING PROBLEM.
Narratives surrounding homelessness often focus on individual-level vulnerabilities such as mental health conditions, substance use, or poor decision-making. However, these narratives misdiagnose the root cause of homelessness and do not explain why so many people are being driven out of their homes at staggering rates across the nation.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities Remain
People of color, particularly Black and Latinx, continue to be disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena.
Unhoused People are Long-Term Residents
Two in three (66%) people who were unsheltered on the night of the count reported living in Pasadena prior to their housing loss, up from 54% in 2020.
First Time Homelessness has Declined
People are falling are experiencing long wait times within the system because there are not enough permanent housing resources to meet their needs.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS.
Demographic data from the Homeless Count survey offers insight into the population dynamics of our unhoused neighbors and a better understanding of disparities among specific groups.
Household Composition
The large majority of people experiencing homelessness continue to be single individuals without children, although some people experience homelessness in couples.
Gender &
Age
Men continue to be overrepresented in our unhoused population, which has been a longstanding demographic trend and mirrors the gender breakdown for people experiencing homelessness nationwide.
Race &
Ethnicity
Centering racial equity is critical when discussing the homelessness crisis because while homelessness impacts all races and ethnic groups, it disproportionately affects communities of color.
