$56 million

The cost of homelessness

About Town – TUESDAY, 12/16/25

Over the past three years, from 2021 – 2024, the county has allocated more than $56 million to emergency homeless shelters. But despite an increase in funding and bed capacity, the problem of homelessness in San Joaquin County has only gotten worse, according to an assessment of the San Joaquin County emergency shelter system. The report given to county supervisors last Tuesday finds that 73% of the homeless population on any given night “live in places not meant for human habitation.” Accordingly, supervisors have made reducing unsheltered homelessness a top priority. The report also states that county homelessness has increased sharply since 2020. “Increases have occurred across all population groups, with the most pronounced growth among child-only households (where all members are under 18), unaccompanied youth, and individuals fleeing domestic violence,” says the report’s authors. They also say there are racial disparities between the sheltered and unsheltered populations. Black residents represent 7% of the county population, but 18% of the unsheltered residents. However, the authors found that Black and Hispanic/Latino residents are more likely to be sheltered, while White residents remain unhoused. As of last January there were 46 shelters operating in the county providing 1,393 beds. People have wondered if all of it is working. Supervisors were told that almost 40% of people who transitioned into permanent housing later returned to homelessness. Returnees say housing affordability and limited income stability are to blame, among other reasons. “A renter must earn $33.13 per hour (approximately $5,743 per month) to afford the median asking rent of $1,723 per month,” the report says. Lodi’s access center, costing about $12.6 million to build, is slated to open by next summer, if all goes well.

LET THERE BE LIGHT: Everybody loves the lights that have been strung across School Street for Christmas, and many would like to see them stay up year round. City spokeswoman Nancy Sarieh says they’re her favorite, too, but leaving them up permanently needs to be worked out. “For a permanent installation, we would need to make sure the lighting cables don’t interfere with Lodi Fire’s access to multi-story buildings along School Street.” Permanent electrical connections and secure structural attachments at the right heights would have to be installed, she says. Maintenance of the lights is another consideration, she says. She says she hopes the lights can stay up sometime in the future.

APPOINTED: He may no longer be mayor, but