Sonoma County Count Finds 1,951 Homeless Residents: Youth and Chronic Homelessness Rise Despite Flat Total

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. — October 27, 2026. Sonoma County’s 2026 point-in-time count, presented to the Board of Supervisors on October 27, recorded 1,951 people experiencing homelessness, one fewer than the 1,952 counted in 2025. The count was taken on January 30, 2026.

What is proposed or reported

The official staff report identifies 1,098 unsheltered residents and 853 in shelters or transitional housing. Chronic homelessness increased from 730 to 818, and youth and unaccompanied children rose from 123 to 168, while the count of homeless families declined from 78 to 42. Santa Rosa independently reported 1,074 people in the city, down from 1,140 in 2025.

What residents should verify

A one-night PIT survey is an estimate and cannot capture every person who experiences homelessness over a year, including many people in temporary doubled-up situations. The October 27 presentation did not itself authorize a new shelter or confirm causes for every change.

Official records: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors legislative report and supporting documents. This article reflects county records as of October 27, 2026 and distinguishes public-hearing proposals from final implemented changes.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Santa Rosa News grow Help strengthen reporting on Santa Rosa: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Santa Rosa News

Choose how to support Santa Rosa News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Santa Rosa News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Santa Rosa News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.