The number of Californians who are “very concerned” about homelessness has plummeted below 30% over the last six years.
The percentage of Bay Area residents who are “very concerned” about the presence of homeless people in their community has dropped from 63% in 2019 to 28% in 2025, according to annual surveys conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California. Homelessness still remains a top concern in the Bay Area, with 76% of respondents expressing they were either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned.” Only 24% of residents responded with “not too concerned” or “not at all concerned” about homeless people.
Lauren Mora, a Public Policy Institute of California survey analyst, said the drop in people being very concerned has to do with their perception of how the state and their local governments are handling homelessness. But in today’s economic climate, people are also more focused on their personal lives…