Pasadena’s homeless population had been steadily declining for years, but that trend was officially broken in 2016 and 2017. The city’s housing department reported an 8 percent increase between single day counts in the city’s homeless population Monday, with the number growing from 530 to 575.
Officials say cold weather contributed to the rise, as more people were seeking shelter on the night of the count. The numbers also remain far better than they were back in 2011 when 1,216 homeless people were counted. The number of chronically homeless declined amid increased outreach efforts as well.
City officials are hoping a set of recent initiatives, including L.A. County’s Measure H, Proposition HHH, and the “No Place Like Home” program will improve efforts to reduce homelessness in the region further.