SAN FRANCISCO—According to new statistics collected by the city, the number of homeless people in San Francisco has increased slightly since 2013.
The biennial report, released on Wednesday, July 15, revealed that 30 percent of the homeless population is 51 years of age or older—a 17 percent increase from the city’s last homeless survey in 2013. Nearly 35 percent of those surveyed said they believed that had some form of a psychiatric condition.
According to the report, there are 6,686 people within city limits without a home to live. In 2013, the number was 6,436. The number of homeless youths dropped from 914 to 853.
Of the 11 supervisorial districts in the city, District Six currently maintains the largest number of homeless people at 57 percent of the city’s total. Two years ago, the district made up just 10 percent of the total homeless population. District 10 experienced the biggest drop—from 49 to 19 percent of the city’s total.
The amount of homeless veterans dropped to 208. Last year, the Department of Veteran Affairs awarded San Francisco with a three-year federal grant to help end homelessness among military veterans living in the city.
The report was conducted by city officials, volunteers and non-profits. In order to qualify for federal funds, the city must produce a homeless count every two years. At the moment, the city has one shelter bed for every six people without a home.
According to the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco has spent more than $1.5 billion on homeless services over the course of the last decade.
Earlier this year, Mayor Edward Lee proposed spending an additional $30 million over two years to add hundreds of additional units of housing for homeless people in hotels.
