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TO:
FROM:
Agenda Report:
June 9, 2025
hlonorable Mayor and City Council
Department of Housing
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SUBJECT: HOMELESSNESS IN PASADENA 2024-2025: RESULTS OF THE 2024 ANNUAL COUNT AND 2025 POINT IN TIME COUNT
RECOMMENDATION:
The following report is for information only; no action is required.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Pasadena utilizes two complementary approaches to measure homelessness in order to guide effective solutions-an Annual Count of all individuals who experienced homelessness over the course of a calendar year and a Point In Time Count of people who experienced homelessness on a single night. Both counts only include people who meet the federal definition of literal homelessness, which does not include those who are doubled up with family or friends, couch surfing, or otherwise at risk of homelessness. While the Annual Count offers a more comprehensive enumeration of the City's homeless population, the Point In Time Count allows for a more in-depth analysis of the characteristics of said population. The 2024 Annual Count provides a full-year assessment of homelessness in Pasadena prior to the Eaton Fire, and the 2025 Point In Time Count presents a "snapshot in time" analysis of homelessness in Pasadena on a single night six weeks after the disaster. Additionally, results from the Point In Time Count contribute to regional, state and national data on homelessness and are used by public funders to allocate resources to the City. 2024 ANNUAL COUNT
Methodology:
The Annual Count utilizes data pulled from.the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the City's primary homeless services database, and comparable secure databases used by specialized providers such as those serving survivors of domestic violence. The Annual Count includes people served by all Pasadena-based programs supporting people experiencing homelessness over the course of a calendar year. This MEETING OFAGENDA ITEM NO. __-1-6--__9_.
Homelessness in Pasadena 2024-2025
June 9, 2025
includes people who experienced homelessness for only a short period of time, those whose homelessness was resolved during the year, and people who experienced multiple episodes of homelessness. While more comprehensive than the Point In Time Count, the Annual Count is still an estimate and does not include those who do not engage with any homeless services.
Results:
5% decrease compared to 2023. Throughout 2024, 1,047 people experienced homelessness in Pasadena, 50 people fewer than in 2023.
Permanent housing placements hold steady. In 2024, 327 people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena were permanently housed, contributing to the three-year total of 1,047.
More people falling into homelessness. In 2024, 270 of the 1,047 individuals counted were newly unhoused, meaning they lost their housing within the twelve months prior to engaging with homeless services. This represents a significant increase over the 215 people who were newly unhoused in 2023.
Racial disparities persist. Reflecting persistent disproportionality in homelessness seen across the region and the nation, Black or African American individuals comprise only 10% of the City's general population yet account for 38% of the Annual Count. Hispanic or Latina/e/o individuals make up 34% of the City's general population but represent 40% of the Annual Count. Among those permanently housed in 2024, 37% were Black or African American and 46% were Hispanic or Latina/e/o, representing equitable housing placements. •High rates of disabling conditions. A total of 79% of people reported one or more long-term health conditions or disabilities. Serious mental health conditions were the most commonly reported, affecting 45% of people, followed by chronic health conditions (29%), and physical disabilities (25%). 2025 POINT IN TIME COUNT
Methodology:
The 2025 Point In Time Homeless Count was conducted on February 19 and February 20, after a month-long postponement due to the Eaton Fire. This federally required effort, mandated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for all Continuums of Care, is comprised of an unsheltered count, a supplementary youth count, and a sheltered count. While the City utilizes the most comprehensive approach available, an undercount is possible, especially among hard-to-reach populations such as families and youth.
More than 160 volunteers and professional homeless service workers conducted a robust canvassing of the entire City for the unsheltered count, covering 28 zones in addition to service locations and the City's libraries. Small teams surveyed people living Homelessness in Pasadena 2024-2025
June 9, 2025
on the street, in vehicles, and other areas not meant for human habitation. Professional outreach workers focused on more densely populated areas, and the Police Department's HOPE and Park Safety teams counted in parks, freeway embankments, and natural areas. All participants utilized a GIS-enabled survey tool developed by the Department of Information Technology. Throughout the unsheltered count, Vaccine Strike Teams, a collaboration of the Public Health Department's Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT) and Huntington Hospital, provided flu, COVID-19, and hepatitis A vaccines in addition to naloxone overdose reversal kits. A supplementary youth count focused on hotspots where unsheltered youth ages 18-24 are more likely to be found and utilized youth enumerators, many with lived experience of homelessness, alongside youth-focused service providers. The sheltered count was derived from client- level data entered into the hlMIS database and comparable secure databases on people who were staying in temporary shelter locations on the night of the unsheltered count, including the Bad Weather Shelter and other congregate emergency shelters, transitional housing, and motels paid for by government and non-profit entities.
Results:
581 people were experiencing homelessness in Pasadena on the night of the Point In Time Count. This represents a 4% increase over the 2024 one- night count. The sheltered count included 12 people who reported being directly impacted by the Eaton Fire.
Unsheltered homelessness rose by 7% in 2025. On the night of the count, 342 people were living in unsheltered locations, with over half (54%) sleeping on the street or sidewalk, representing the most visible segment of the homeless population. This is an increase of 21 people from last year's count of 321.
Regional mobility is more prevalent. While half of all unsheltered residents were last permanently housed in Pasadena and had lived here for an average of 19 years at the time of housing loss, the share of unsheltered residents who lost their housing elsewhere in the San Gabriel Valley increased to 14% from 9% in 2024, an additional 21 people. Overall, 84% of all unsheltered individuals were last housed somewhere in Los Angeles County.
Single adults make up a growing share Pasadena's homeless population.
In 2025, 485 individuals experiencing homelessness on the night of the count (83%) were adults without children, a 7% increase over 455 in 2024. Compared to people in families, single adults are more likely to be chronically homeless (58% vs. 21%) and have a long-term health condition or disability (72% vs. 23%).
Downward trend in veteran homelessness continues. Homelessness among veterans has declined for two consecutive years, with 29 veterans experiencing homelessness in 2025, down from 32 in 2024 and 40 in 2023.
Homelessness in Pasadena 2024-2025
June 9, 2025
FUTURE OUTLOOK:
The 2025 Point In Time Count took place just six weeks after the Eaton Fire disaster.
While the American Red Cross evacuation shelter had already relocated from the Pasadena Convention Center to Pamela Park in Duarte, resources for fire-impacted households such as FEMA transitional sheltering assistance, Airbnb stays, and hotel stays through Los Angeles County's 211 were still readily accessible, mitigating the disaster's impact on the one-night count. Local homeless services providers now report a stark increase in requests for services as a result of the fire as low-income households and those who were already precariously housed prior to the disaster struggle to maintain housing or shelter. Additionally, proposed cuts to federal funding, which comprises 76% of the Housing Department's proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, present significant challenges the City's ability to maintain its robust response to the growing challenges related to homelessness in Pasadena. On the other hand, in FY 2026, Los Angeles County's Measure A is set to bring expanded funding for homeless services and affordable housing development to the City. This boost in resources has the potential to strengthen the City's response to homelessness and help bridge critical funding gaps caused by federal cuts.
The 2024 Annual Count and 2025 Point In Time Count results are available for public viewing at www.pasadenahomelesscount.org.
Respectfully submitted,
Mv-
JAMES WONG
Housing Director
Prepared by:
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Jennifer 0 Reilly-Jones
Program Coordinator III
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Approvedy:
MIGUEL MARQUEZ
City Manager
NICHOLAS G. RODRIGUEZ
Assistant City Manager