Paso Robles City Council
August 18, 2026

HOMELESS SERVICES DIVISION
2026 PIT Count Results
August 18, 2026
Presenter
Name
Linda Belch,
Deputy Director
Department of Social Services
2026 PIT Count Update 2
Acknowledgements
• 261 volunteers | 7 logistics centers | countywide effort 2026 PIT Count Update 3
Agenda • Summary • Key Takeaways • Trends • Demographics • Regional Distribution • Inventory • Paso Robles Spotlight 2026 PIT Count Update
4 Countywide Report
• On January 26, 2026, there were:
o 1,118 individuals identified experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County.
• Of this:
o 666 individuals were counted as experiencing unsheltered homelessness
o452 were counted as sheltered.
2026 PIT Count Update 5
Methodology
• Point-in-Time is a snapshot of homelessness in San Luis Obispo County on January 26, 2026.
• Sheltered Count: HMIS
participating and non-HMIS
participating aggregates.
• Unsheltered Count: over 200
volunteers deployed across 7
logistic centers
2026 PIT Count Update 6
Capacity in Emergency Shelters increased on the night on the PIT Count.
22% Decrease in overall homelessness since 2022
42% Decrease in unsheltered homelessness since 2022
47% Decrease in Veteran homelessness since 2024
Key Takeaways
2026 PIT Count Update 7
Youth and family homelessness
Housing Inventory utilization
Chronic homelessness and complex service needs
Where more work is needed
2026 PIT Count Update 8
PIT Count Data
9 PIT Count Trends from 2017
2026 PIT Count Update 10
Sheltered vs Unsheltered
31%
21% 20%
32%
40%
69%
79% 80%
68%
60%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2017 2019 2022 2024 2026
Shelter Proportion Unsheltered Proportion
2026 PIT Count Update 12
Regional Distribution
San Luis Obispo
45%
North County
34%
Coastal
3%
South County
18%
2026 PIT Count Update 13
Age Breakdown
2026 PIT Count Update 14
Under 18; 8%
Age 18-24; 4%
Age 25-34; 13%
Age 35-44; 22%
Age 45-54; 21%
Age 55-64; 18% Age 65+; 14%
Race and Ethnicity Breakdown
2026 PIT Count Update 15
Cal ICH Comparable
American Indian,
Alaska Native, or
Indigenous
5%
Asian or Asian
American
1%
Black, African
American, or African
5%
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
22%
Middle Eastern or
North African
0% Native Hawaiian
or Pacific Islander
2%
White
65%
Length of Residence in SLO County
2026 PIT Count Update 16
12 6 21
43 195
12 0
50 100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Less than 1 month 1 month or more,
but less than 90 days
90 days or more, but
less than one year
1 - 5 years More than 5 years Doesn't know
Sleeping Accommodation
2026 PIT Count Update 17
January 22, 2024 vs. January 26, 2026
0 20
40 60
80 100
120
140
160
Abandoned
Building
Other Park Street Under
Bridge/Overpass
Vehicle Outdoors
2024
2026
More Capacity – with opportunity to improve
utilization
2026 PIT Count Update 18
City of Paso Robles
on the night of January 26, 2026
2026 PIT Count Update 19
2026 Sheltered and Unsheltered Population
266 people counted in Paso Robles
83 183
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
City of Paso Robles
Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population
2026 PIT Count Update 20
452
666
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
San Luis Obispo County
Sheltered Population Unsheltered Population
Age of Clients- Paso Robles
2026 PIT Count Update 21
Under Age 18
14%
Age 18-24
1%
Age 25-34
18%
Age 35-44
30%
Age 45-54
21%
Age 55-64
11%
Age 65 or older
5%
Under Age 18 Age 18-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 Age 45-54 Age 55-64 Age 65 or older 22 Conclusions
• PIT Count data shows a reduction in homelessness in San Luis Obispo County based on data captured on a single night
• Increasing sheltered inventory alongside decreasing unsheltered homelessness countywide is an encouraging trend reflecting a growing system of care.
• The full community report is available at
o https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/social-services/homeless-servicesdivision/point-in-time-count 2026 PIT Count Update 23