Volunteers fanned out across Petaluma and Sonoma County last week for the annual Point-In-Time homeless count. The count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness.
The count, combined with in-depth surveys, helps track trends in homelessness and informs funding decisions for local programs. While Petaluma has seen a slight decrease in its homeless population over the past few years, Sonoma County overall experienced an 11% increase in 2024. Organizers acknowledge the count is likely an undercount. The data will be included in a report to Congress.
Local organizations, including HomeFirst, COTS, and the County Department of Health Services, are working to address the issue, particularly given the uncertainty of future funding.
