IRWINDALE, Calif. - Places like this Shepherd’s Pantry help feed the homeless every week and lately they’ve seen a lot more people in need.

Homelessness has surged in the San Gabriel Valley. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority released its count for 2019.

Irwindale saw almost a five-fold increase over last year for a total of 113 homeless people. Neighboring Azusa saw its number double to 320 people. Many cities in the valley saw similar trends.

Perhaps it’s underwhelming when compared to Los Angeles, but these are big numbers for small towns like Temple City. That’s where Operations Manager for Shepherd’s Pantry Frances Gilek is from. It’s also where homelessness has nearly doubled.

“I was surprised that they weren’t from far away. I thought they were coming from L.A., from farther away, even from another state,” said Gilek.

Diana Ortiz, 39, is from Baldwin Park. She’s been homeless for several years. Even though it’s hard she doesn’t want to leave what she knows.

“It causes a lot of emotional issues. I have a lot of fear and anxiety,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz is sleeping in a park. She comes to Shepherd’s Pantry alone.

“I have to face it and I have to be in it and get used to it and just deal with it,” said Ortiz.

As a lifetime resident of the San Gabriel valley, Gilek has seen rents continue to rise. She says a minimum wage job or a disability check might not make ends meet anymore.

“It tells me that things are getting harder and harder in this area to keep your head above water,” said Gilek.

That goes for local governments as well.

Azusa City Manager Sergio Gonzalez says his town will face a $2.3 million budget deficit next fiscal year. They’re already devoting a special team of police officers and mental health clinicians to reach out to people who want housing help.

Gonzalez believes Interstate 210 and the completion of the Metro Gold Line has contributed to the rising number of homeless people in Azusa.

“We have seen that the increases of transients and homelessness are evident in and around the Gold Line stop,” said Gonzalez.

For Ortiz the question is not how did this happen, it’s how long will this last.