San Mateo County reports 2,240 people experiencing homelessness in 2026 count

San Mateo County, California – San Mateo County’s latest homelessness data show a community still under heavy pressure, but also one where long-term investments appear to be moving more people indoors and into permanent homes.

The 2026 One Day Homeless Count found 2,240 people experiencing homelessness during the early morning hours of January 29. That total includes 1,095 people in shelters, up by 110 from the previous Count, and 1,145 people living unsheltered, a number that remained essentially unchanged.

County officials say the rise in sheltered homelessness is not simply a sign of deeper need, but also a reflection of expanded shelter space and stronger routes toward housing.

“The federally mandated Count provides an important point-in-time snapshot every two years. It’s one of many data points we track on the movement of people into and out of homelessness,” said Claire Cunningham, Director of the County’s Human Services Agency (HSA).

“Our work continues to focus both on helping people exit homelessness and preventing others from falling into it.”

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The Count, required by federal law, helps the County of San Mateo and its partners better understand homelessness across the community. Still, officials caution that it is only one view of a much larger and shifting picture. The survey is based on visual observations during a single period of time, and in some cases, such as parked vehicles and RVs, it relies on an occupancy formula rather than a direct person-by-person count. To sharpen that picture, the County also conducts a monthly direct count to help shape funding choices, programs, and long-term solutions.

Housing costs remain one of the biggest forces behind the crisis. According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development fair market rent estimates, the monthly fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in San Mateo County rose from $3,359 in 2024 to $3,604 in 2026.

“While structural factors like high housing costs, income inequality, and longstanding systematic barriers are key drivers of homelessness, there is no single solution to the problem,” said Amy Davidson, HSA’s Center on Homelessness Director. “Determining the right support needed for each person requires understanding their unique circumstances, strengths and needs.”

Since the last Point-in-Time Count, 1,772 people have moved from homelessness into permanent housing. County leaders point to a broad strategy that includes affordable housing production, prevention efforts, outreach, and shelter expansion.

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Since 2013, the County has invested about $365 million in Measure K and other local funds to support more than 5,100 affordable permanent homes. Earlier this year, it also launched Right at Home, a nationally grant-funded homelessness prevention program offering flexible financial help and case management.

Outdoor homelessness has also remained a focus. Through a state-funded encampment resolution effort, 170 people from 26 encampments moved into shelter or stable housing with supportive services. Since 2020, countywide shelter capacity has grown by 41 percent, including four new shelters with 449 private beds, plus added congregate and transitional housing beds. The preliminary Executive Summary is available now, with the full report expected this fall.