Palm Beach County Reports 28.5% Decrease in Homelessness

Recent data from Palm Beach County indicates a significant 28.5% decrease in homelessness, as reported by the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count conducted at the end of January. The count identified 1,520 individuals experiencing homelessness, down from over 2,100 last year, with notable reductions among specific groups: veteran homelessness decreased by 10%, senior homelessness by 21%, and chronic homelessness by 30%. The survey involved over 200 staff and volunteers, including law enforcement, who navigated various locations to gather accurate data, although challenges arose due to the state's new Public Camping Law. County officials attribute this decline to several initiatives, including the opening of new housing resources and expanded support services. Wendy Tippett, director of the Community Services Department, emphasized the importance of using these numbers for data-driven decisions to further address homelessness. Ongoing efforts are focused on ensuring that homelessness in the region remains rare, brief, and nonrecurring.