San Bernardino County is seeing encouraging progress in its efforts to reduce homelessness, with new data showing a second consecutive year of decline. Results from the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, conducted on January 22, identified 3,718 individuals experiencing homelessness, marking a 3.1 percent decrease from the previous year.

Of that total, approximately 2,448 individuals were unsheltered, while 1,270 were in shelters or temporary housing programs. The most notable shift came from the unsheltered population, which declined by 188 individuals, or 7.1%, signaling improvements in outreach and placement efforts.

This marks the second straight year of declining numbers, following a much larger 10.2% drop in 2025. The recent decreases are especially significant after several years of increases, including a 26% rise in 2023, a 6.6% increase in 2022, and a smaller 1% increase in 2024.

The Point-in-Time Count serves as an annual summary of homelessness across the county and plays a critical role in helping officials understand where resources are most needed. The data also supports funding efforts at the state and federal level, helping secure resources for housing programs and support services.

County leaders credit the continued improvement to a combination of expanded outreach efforts, increased shelter availability, and ongoing investments in long-term housing solutions. Officials emphasized that while progress is being made, addressing homelessness remains a priority that requires continued collaboration and sustained resources.

This year, the count included participation from local officials, service providers, volunteers, and community organizations working together to gather data across the region. Enhancements to the process, such as additional field resources, real-time response teams, and new digital tools, improved coordination and enabled outreach teams to connect individuals with shelter and services during the count itself.

As the county builds on this momentum, leaders say the focus remains on expanding access to housing and support programs to help more individuals transition into stable living situations.