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The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment

$8.1 billion every year. That's how we solve homelessness.

The state and federal governments are projected to commit an average of $1.2 billion toward affordable and supportive housing annually. We’re providing the data legislators need to close the $6.9 billion gap between the housing and services we have and the housing and services we need. Help get this report in front of our leaders.

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Putting Money Where it Counts

California has invested record amounts of funding in homelessness in recent years, but never with a clear understanding of how much is needed or what it is paying for. The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment answers the question, “What will it take to solve homelessness in California?”

Data-backed Solutions

The investment Californians deserve

We crunched the numbers. These are the investments we need in order to connect 225,053 households experiencing homelessness with homes. See our methodology.

Download the Report
The Investment We Need
A pie chart titled "2.7% of the state's budget is all we need to solve homelessness." The graph shows that out of the total annual 2022-2023 budget of $303 billion, only $1.2 billion is currently committed to addressing homelessness. We need $6.9 billion more in order to solve homelessness statewide.
Build

112,527

affordable apartments

Cost = $5.7B/year for 12 years

Subsidize operations and rents for

225,053

apartments

Cost = $1.8B/year for 12 years

Provide supportive housing services for

62,966

Californians with disabilities

Cost = $488M/year for 12 years

Fund interim interventions for

32,235

individuals and families

Cost = $630.4M total for 12 years

Total Investment Needed to Solve Homelessness

= $8.1 billion/year on average over 12 years

Take Action

Contact your legislators

Homelessness is solvable. We just need to create the political will to do it. Take less than a minute to send our pre-written email to share the Needs Assessment with your legislators.

Send your message
Listen in

What happens when housing is affordable and accessible

People who have experienced homelessness first-hand know that investing in permanent housing isn’t just good policy—it changes lives. Their stories give a small look at the enormous impact of a safe, affordable home.
Anthony Haynes

Anthony continues to help others experiencing homelessness through his work at Skid Row Housing Trust. As someone who was formerly homeless, Anthony’s experiences put him in a unique position to help others in or near homelessness.

Vikki Vickers

Vikki is a relentless homeless advocate that believes strongly that having a home is a right that everyone should have. She raises her voice loud and often to help improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

Tiffany Duvernay-Smith

Through love, empathy, and hope, Tiffany believes that change is possible if we continue to push forward and do so with respect for all.

Zondre Johnson

Zondre is a Los Angeles resident and dedicated advocate and voice for those currently experiencing homelessness and others trying to avoid it.

Why This Matters

It's time for a change

Every successful plan begins with a clear goal.

For years, California has invested money into housing and homelessness without a shared understanding of where the funds should go or how much money to contribute.

We need a specific investment goal and a detailed plan to reach it.

To turn tax dollars into tangible results, we have to ground our investments in reality. That means using a combination of data, research, and input from people with lived expertise to determine a path forward.

That’s what we’ve done with The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment.

Our Current Situation

Homelessness at a glance

California is home to 25% of the country’s total homeless population—the most in the nation—because we lack housing which unemployed people and those with extremely low or fixed incomes can afford. Here’s who is most affected.

79%

of extremely low-income California renters are severely housing burdened

“Severely housing burdened” people are those who must spend more than half of their income on rent. In California over 1.1 million people fall into this category.

45%

of people accessing homelessness resources have a disability

Due to employment barriers, medical expenses, and limited welfare support, people with disabilities are at an increased risk of falling into homelessness.

> 26%

increase in Latinos experiencing homelessness across the state

Homelessness among Latinos has increased by 29% in San Diego County, 30% in Los Angeles, 55% in San Francisco, and 87% in Sacramento County.

A bar chart titled "Homeless population racial disparity." It shows that Black people are overrepresented in the homeless population by 389%. Native Americans by 76%. Pacific Islanders by 180%. And multi-racial people by 24%. Meanwhile, white people are underrepresented in the homeless population by 21%. Asian people by 87%. And Hispanic people by 14%.

32%

of people experiencing homelessness in California are Black

Black people make up 6.5% of the state’s population, but are nearly one-third of the unhoused population—a reality driven largely by the state’s history with red lining, housing discrimination, and ongoing disinvestment from Black communities.

2:1

is the ratio of Indigenous people & Native Alaskans experiencing homelessness and the general population

Due to a history of discrimination and displacement, Indigenous people and Native Alaskans are disproportionately affected by California’s housing and homelessness crisis, resulting in higher rates of homelessness in these communities.

Take Action

Push for change

California has never had something like The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment before. Take less than a minute to tell your legislators you endorse this report and want data-driven homelessness solutions.

Send your message