San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing released its January 2026 point‑in‑time count, showing that total homelessness fell 4% from 8,323 in 2024 to 7,973 this year. The decline includes a 22% reduction in unsheltered individuals, reflecting the city’s expanded shelter and relocation programs.
Child homelessness climbs amid overall gains
Despite the overall drop, the number of children experiencing homelessness rose 27%, increasing from 618 to 786. Of those children, 190 were unsheltered, meaning they were sleeping in tents, outdoors, vehicles or abandoned properties.
The department cautioned that the early‑morning count (6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) likely missed families traveling to school or work, suggesting the true figure could be higher. Former Bayshore Navigation Center CEO Steve Good noted that many families move to San Francisco for its services, even though living outside the city can be difficult.
Broader trends in homelessness
Chronic homelessness grew 17% compared with 2024, and first‑time homelessness rose 15%. About 44% of those counted were already homeless before arriving in San Francisco, and nearly one‑third cited city services as a draw.
The number of people in households with children grew 34%, from 1,103 in 2024 to 1,474 in 2026, linking the rise in child homelessness to larger family households.
City officials stress progress
Department representative Deborah Bouk said the findings highlight “significant regional demand” but also underscored “meaningful progress” the city has made, including a permit program for families living in RVs, an expanded relocation program, and increased case‑management assistance.
San Francisco’s Rent Board reported a 44% jump in evictions this year, prompting the mayor to declare a “rent emergency” and propose legislation to boost eviction compensation by 25% for tenants displaced under the Ellis Act.
Critics and context
Eviction‑defense attorney Tuesday Rose Thornton called the report “horrifying, but in no way surprising,” pointing to landlords using illegal tactics to push families out. Former homelessness commission member Christin Evans warned that comparing this count to previous years is like comparing “apples and oranges” because of methodological changes.
Overall, the city’s year‑end homeless population in 2025, which counts anyone who cycled through the system, reached 23,425, far above the 7,973 counted on the streets in January.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
