SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For roughly a year, Deborah Lanphear said she has been homeless in San Joaquin County.

Lanphear said she lives in a makeshift rolling bed in streets around Stockton with her adult son and she is far from alone.

What You Need To Know

  • The recently released Point In Time Count for San Joaquin County saw the number of unhoused people jump 104%, from 2,319 in 2022 to 4,732 this year

  • Data from the count said over a quarter of those surveyed indicated reduced or loss of income as the primary reason for being unhoused

  • The report also found 40% indicated they have abused drugs or alcohol

  • County officials said a new method for counting the number of unhoused people may have contributed to such a stark increase from the last count in 2022

“You used to drive around, see a couple of tents here and there. They’re everywhere now,” Lanphear said. “They’re everywhere.”

Lanphear’s account of seeing more homeless people in the county matches the recently released Point In Time Count for the county which saw the number of homeless people jump 104%, from 2,319 in 2022 to 4,732 this year.

Jessica Velez is the founder of Red Rabbit Advocacy Programs, which helps connect homeless people with housing opportunities and other resources.

She is in daily contact with many homeless people and said the increase doesn’t surprise her.

“I’m pretty sure that the numbers are still higher than that,” Velez said. “We were estimating numbers even higher than what came out this year, at the previous one [2022].”

Data from the count shows over a quarter of those surveyed indicated reduced or loss of income as the primary reason for being homeless.

Velez said it’s a major reason she, too, hears from those she helps.

“A big reason is the housing costs,” Velez said. “I’m contacted by families every single day that say they’re out priced, and people on Social Security, that demographic of individuals on the streets is increasing rapidly.”

The report also found 40% showed they have abused drugs or alcohol.

San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti said he hears from outreach staff the number is much higher and why the county is actively engaging in programs to address the issue, and looking further at what can be done.

“If we can come forward with enforcement, shelter and support services available, organized safe camping locations,” Patti said. “As we’ve seen recently in Auburn, California, they have a great county run program [camping] that we’re looking to replicate here. So, we want to copy models of success.”

Lanphear said she and her son have had an issue with opioids in the past, but has been clean for three-and-half years and hopes soon to find housing.

“I just want to get back to, just get back to stabilization. I guess you could say,” Lanphear said.

Because she said with more stability and a place of her own, she can once again see more of her granddaughters, who she sees too infrequently.