(KRON) — This year’s point-in-time count of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County showed a major spike in the City of Mountain View.
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The count found 879 unhoused people in Mountain View, up from 562 in 2023 — a 56% increase. The city points to the rise of people living out of cars and recreational vehicles (RVs), along with “lack of affordable housing and limited temporary shelters and programs in Santa Clara County and the greater Bay Area.” Officials also note that some commuters with homes elsewhere live in vehicles while working in Mountain View.
Across the county, homelessness — “including both sheltered and unsheltered individuals”—rose a little over 8% compared to 2023. On a single night in January, 10,711 people were counted.
The report said the leading causes were job loss, followed by household loss or breakup, health issues, and eviction. About 46% of people were living in a car or RV, 24% were outdoors, and 30% were in a shelter…