To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date '5} 1 / V.., CA __J{CC ✓
CM ✓ ACM ✓ DCM (3) £_
May 1, 2026
Council Memorandum
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2026023
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Jeff Murphy, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Mandy Mills, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
Via:
Chris Shilling, Homeless Servic~ger
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager ~
Re: Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 2026 Results (Districts - All) The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is conducted annually to collect an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness across the United States. This count is a bi-annual requirement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all Continuums of Care (Coe) who receive federal funding. The Regional Taskforce on Homelessness (RTFH) manages the San Diego County's Coe and has elected to exceed this requirement by conducting the count annually each January.
The city uses multiple measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of reducing its unsheltered homeless population. The annual PIT Count is one data source to gauge the year-over-year demographic trends and approximate the number of homeless persons living in Carlsbad. The PIT Count is conducted one night per year to collect data on homelessness in our region. While it does not give the complete picture on how many people experience homelessness throughout the year, it does provide data about the approximate number of homeless persons there are on a given night . It is one of the tools used nationally to assess progress each year toward the goal of reducing homelessness and is often used for funding decisions.
The following information reflects the 2026 PIT Count data officially released by RTFH on May 1, 2026. Regionally, San Diego County's unsheltered PIT Count decreased from 5,714 individuals in 2025 to 5,108 individuals in 2026, a decrease of approximately 10.6%. In Carlsbad, the unsheltered count increased from 101 individuals in 2025 to 110 individuals in 2026, an increase of nine individuals. There were 36 people who were counted living in vehicles which is about 33% ofthe total unsheltered count. This is a decrease in 25 people counted living in vehicles compared to 61 last year.
The following graph displays pertinent information for Carlsbad from the 2026 PIT Count:
Data 2026 2025 Change Change
Carlsbad Unsheltered 110 101 +9 +8.9%
North County Coastal Unsheltered 536 510 +26 +5.1%
San Diego County Region Unsheltered 5108 5714 -606 -10.6% Community Services
Housing & Homeless Services
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2810 t Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 2026 Results (Districts - All) May 1, 2026
The full reports from the RTFH are attached to this memorandum. Below are some important points to receive context around the data:
• Carlsbad makes up approximately 3.5% of the region's population, but 2.15% of the region's unsheltered homeless population.
• The North County Coastal homeless population increased from 510 individuals in 2025 to 536 individuals in 2026, an increase of 5.1%.
• The North County overall area experienced a 2% decrease in the unsheltered homeless population. The North County Region, including inland areas, accounts for approximately 11.3% of the unsheltered homeless population in San Diego County for the 2026 PIT Count.
San Diego County
l 1 1 I 1 r It f 1 , d 1 1 <I I H I t l r d ( n I n I 1111 I Tot ( I I ) ~~ f J I r 1 North
Coastal
Region
847
Central
Region
' TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
North Inland Region
895
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
South Region
1,052
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
East
Region
1, S
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 2026 Results (Districts - All) May 1, 2026
RECIONAL YEAR OVER YEAR CHANCE 2026 2025 % Change
While the PIT Count data is useful to point out regional trends, it only provides a snapshot of information which may or may not accurately reflect the size of the city's homeless population over a sustained period of time. For this reason, the PIT Count does not provide enough conclusive evidence to determine achievement towards the City Council's goal of reducing homelessness in Carlsbad. Staff will continue to report on a variety of data points to inform the City Council and the public about the progress the city is making toward its goal to reduce homelessness. The next report is scheduled for presentation to the City Council in June.
Staff will continue to evaluate the PIT Count data alongside other local data sources, including outreach contacts, the city's geographic By-Name List, service utilization, housing placements and vehicle homelessness trends. This broader data picture is important because the PIT Count provides a one-night estimate, while local operational data helps the city understand ongoing trends, service needs and progress throughout the year.
Attachment A: San Diego Coe Region 2026 Point-in-Time Count Data cc: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Christie Calderwood, Chief of Police
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Attachment A
2026
{city of
Carlsbad
City-wide Breakdown
CARLSBAD, CA
RTFH
SAN DIEGO'S
REGIONAL LEADER
110 61
TOTAL UNSHELTERED TOTAL SHELTERED
~- 5 VETERANS
I
a a
TAY (18-24) , , ,,.
53 , ·-
SENIORS ~
(55+)
41% CHRONIC HOMELESS 33% CHRONIC HOMELESS
UNSHELTERED % CHANCE 2026TOTAL 2025TOTAL %CHANCE
lcarlsbad 110 101 8.9%
_ SHELTER BY TYPE ES TH SH 2026TOTAL 2025TOTAL %CHANCE
lcarlsbad 61 0 0 61 42 45.24%
SHELTER HOUSINC INVE TOR CO NT (HIC) BEDS & UTILIZATION BY TYPE
NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION ES PSH RAH :
64 54 49 i
San Diego County
REGIONAL DATA BREAKDOWN
REGIONAL YEAR OVER YEAR CHANCE 2026 2025
Sa go 0
RTFH
SAN DIEGO'S
REGIONAL LEADER
% Change
Unshe ltered and She lter ed Comb ined Tota ls by Region North
Coastal
Region
TOTA L
HOMELESS
PERSONS
Central
Region
5,958
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
North Inland Region
895
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
•••· ...
South Region ··• •..
'
52 TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
East
Region
1,051
TOTAL
HOMELESS
PERSONS
San Diego County
RTFH
REGIONAL DATA BREAKDOWN
SAN DIEGO'S
REGIONAL LEADER
ON HOMELESSNESS
5,708 ···> 52%
TOTAL UNSHELTERED
, .... 47
• • M PERSONS
~ ...,.---- IN FAMILIES
48%
CHRONIC
HOMELESS
222 a
TAY (18-24) ' ...
7,676 ' ·_
SENIORS ~
(55+) ,
16%
SURVIVOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
4,695 ···> 48%
TOTAL SHELTERED
30%
CHRONIC
HOMELESS
7%
SURVIVOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
UNSHEL TEAED SLEEPING LOCATIONS
UNSHELTERED CIRCUMSTANCES
REPORTED BEINC
HOMELESS FOR THE
FIRST TIME
REPORTED
BECOMINC
HOMELESS
IN
San Diego County
RTFH
REGIONAL DATA BREAKDOWN
SAN DIEGO'S
REGIONAL LEADER
YEAR OVER YEAR CHANCE
ACE RANCE e Unsh eltered Sheltered
• • • •
I <1%
1 4%
9%
23%
33%
2026
62%
2025 % Change
UNSHELTERED DISABILITY
TYPES
LIVING WITH
e ;;;s
SHEL TEA HOUSING INVENTORY C UNT (HIC) BEDS & UTILIZATION BY TYPE
NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION NUMBER OF BEDS UTILIZATION ES SH : PSH
4,066 98 l 7,688
OPH
(PH only and PHwS) 9 2 ~
1,839 °
San Diego County
REGIONAL DATA BREAKDOWN
UNSHELTERED & SHELTERED BREAKDOWNS BY CITY
2026TOTAL 2026TOTAL 2025TOTAL
RTFH
SAN DIEGO'S
REGIONAL LEADER
ON HOMELESSNESS
REGION CITY ES TH SH SHELTERED UNSHELTERED UNSHELTERED 2025-26 UNSHELTERED CHANGE City of San Diego 2,292 462 72 2,826 3,132 3,354 -6.6%
Central Region
RECilON TOTAL 2,292 462 72 2,826 3,132 3,354 -6.6%
- - -Chula Vista 295 45 0 340 355 470 -24.5%
South Region
Coronado 0 0 0 0 2 l 100%
[CHULA VISTA INCLUDES
Imperial Beach 0 0 0 0 25 17 47.1%
SWEETWATER) National City 168 13 0 181 149 135 10.3%
-- -- -
REOION TOTAL 463 58 0 521 531 623 -14.8%
- -- -
El Cajon• 268 284 0 552 208 344 -39.5%
...
-;- I
'"
La Mesa 36 0 39 39 52 -25%
East Region Lakeside* 0 - 0 r 0 0 34 47 -27.7%
CEL CAJON INCLUDES
UNINCORPORATED Lemon Grove 0 0 0 0 55 110 -50%
COMMUNITIES. -SPRING VALLEY INCLUDES Santee 14 0 0 I 14 19 53 -64.1% CASA DE OROJ*
Spring Valley• 0 0 0 0 91 106 -14.1%
-RECilON TOTAL 318 287 0 605 446 712 -37.4%
-
Escondido* 230 44 7 281 271 307 -11.7%
- --
Fall brook* 18 0 0 18 17 16 6.2%
North Inland -
~ ~
-
Region Poway 0 0 0 0 3 9 -66.7%
- - - - -
[ESCON □ IDO INCLUDES Ramona• 0 0 0 0 8 9 -11.1%
NC METRO 6 HIDDEN - - -
~
MEADOWS. VISTA San Marcos 0 0 0 0 7 30 -76 .7%
INCLUDES BONSALLJ* - - - -- -
Vista 89 44 0 133 157 144 9%
- --
REOION TOTAL 337 88 7 432 463 515 -10.1%
- --
North Coastal Carlsbad 61 0 0 61 110 101 8.9%
- - - -Region Encinitas 35 8 0 43
I
64 91 -29.7%
- -- -[ENCINITAS INCLUDES Oceanside 109 87 11 207 362 318 13.8% SAN DIEGUITO, SOLANA - --BEACH 6 DEL MARJ REOION TOTAL 205 95 11 311 536 510 5.1% COUNTY WIDE 4,695 5,108 5,714 -11% TOTALS