Palm Springs reports 63% drop in homelessness as county data is released
Numbers from a one-day point-in-time count in January show a second consecutive year of declining growth rates and a 19% drop in unsheltered individuals across all of Riverside County.
Palm Springs officials are reporting a 63% decrease in the number of unhoused individuals living on city streets since 2023, according to results from the Riverside County Point-in-Time Count conducted on Jan. 22.
The dramatic reduction in Palm Springs stands in contrast to Riverside County as a whole, which reported a 7% increase in its total homeless population, counting 3,990 people experiencing homelessness across the region.
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In 2023, the last time the count — a one-day, single moment in time survey — was conducted, volunteers in Palm Springs reported 239 people living on the streets. The 63% decline equates to 88 people found living on city streets during this year’s count.
“This incredible news is the result of a strong partnership between the City of Palm Springs, the County of Riverside, Martha’s Village and Kitchen, the Palm Springs Police Department and our hard working City Staff and committed community of stakeholders,” City Manager Scott Stiles said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Stiles attributed the success to collaborative efforts that led to the opening of the Palm Springs Access Center and the new Palm Springs Navigation Center.
The City Council invested $40 million to develop the Navigation Center on McCarthy Road, which is operated by Martha’s Village and Kitchen, one of the region’s most respected homeless service providers.
The facility includes 80 units for individuals and families seeking permanent housing, a playground, dog park, computer room, employment assistance, mental health services and a cafeteria.
An Early Access Facility located next door provides up to 50 overnight shelter beds on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Police Chief Andy Mills emphasized the collaborative approach to addressing homelessness.
“When tackling complex problems, it takes a massive effort by all government, non-profits, institutions, and neighbors,” he said.
Mills noted that cutting unsheltered homelessness by 63% while increasing housed individuals by 155% represents “a remarkable and incredible feat.” He added, “It is safe to say that our efforts in Palm Springs are having a positive impact valley-wide.”
Despite the overall increase in countywide numbers, Riverside County officials highlighted a 19% reduction in unsheltered homelessness and significant progress in reducing the growth rate from 15% in 2022 to 12% in 2023, and now to 7% in 2025.
“It is tremendous progress that we have huge reductions, less people living on the streets and more having access to shelters,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
The county reported a 57% increase in shelter bed capacity since 2023 and an 11% increase over 2024, contributing to the reduction in unsheltered individuals.
“With more individuals accessing shelter, the reduction in unsheltered homelessness is both meaningful and indicative of system-wide progress,” said Heidi Marshall, director of the Riverside County Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions.
County officials attribute improvements to their comprehensive Homeless Action Plan, which aligns federal, state and local resources around shared five-year regional goals while integrating health and behavioral health care into homelessness response efforts.
The annual count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was coordinated by the county’s Office of Homeless Services in partnership with the Riverside County Continuum of Care, a network of public and private homeless service providers.
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