FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2026
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
Vice Chair Katrina Foley Announces 32% Decrease in Homelessness in District 5
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA – Today, the County of Orange and the Orange County Continuum of Care (CoC) announced the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. Compared to the 2024 PIT Count, Orange County recorded a 13.7% decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness countywide. For the first time, shelters and transitional housing programs housed more individuals than streets, encampments, and other places not intended for human habitation.
District 5 led the County with a 32% reduction in homelessness since 2024.
“Thirty percent fewer people sleep on the streets of the Fifth District because of our intentional policy changes, critical investments in housing opportunities of all types, and a commitment to maintaining our robust system of care. When government functions to uplift the most vulnerable, our entire community improves. The results reaffirm the only way to solve homelessness is through stable, permanent housing and supportive services,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley. “Our expanded shelter network has moved more people off the streets and into beds and homes. I look forward to using this data to prioritize much-needed funding for those services and other critical programs.”
Supervisor Foley continued, “When my team surveyed Costa Mesa, we encountered little hesitancy from the unhoused individuals we spoke with. Most people engaged openly, even when they declined shelter. Some accepted resource cards, while others turned down services. Nearly everyone we encountered faced a health crisis and lacked access to recuperative care or housing without significant assistance.”
Volunteers counted 6,321 people experiencing homelessness during the 2026 PIT Count. Of that total, emergency shelters and transitional housing programs served 3,256 individuals, while 3,065 individuals remained unsheltered. Compared to 2024, Orange County saw a 27% decline in the unsheltered population alongside a 3% increase in the sheltered population.
Notable Data
- Counts declined in Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, and San Juan Capistrano by an average of 14% per city.
- Counts increased in San Clemente and County unincorporated areas by approximately 28%.
- Unsheltered family homelessness declined by 34%
- Veteran homelessness declined 37%.
- Transitional aged youth homelessness (18-24 years old) declined by 20%
Orange County Housing Inventory
- Since the 2024 Point In Time Count, a total of 898 supportive and affordable housing units were brought onboard in the County compared to 524 units brought on between the 2022 and 2024 Point In Time Count.
- From 2024 to 2026, there has been an increase of 158 shelter beds, including 87 emergency shelter beds and 71 transitional housing beds.
From 2024 to 2026, there has been an increase of 211 permanent supportive housing beds.
The 2026 PIT Count followed the same methodology used in 2024, 2022, and 2019, allowing researchers to compare homelessness trends across Orange County over the past seven years. The count gathered participant-level data on sheltered and unsheltered populations, household composition, subpopulations, and disabling conditions, including substance use disorder, serious mental illness, and physical disabilities, along with other demographic factors.
Participants self-reported the information collected during the process, helping County leaders better understand the needs and challenges facing individuals experiencing homelessness.
###
Vice Chair Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2026 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust
Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee
OC Public Libraries Advisory Board
Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees
Transportation Corridor Agency - Foothill/Eastern
Transportation Corridor Agency - San Joaquin Hills
Coastal Greenbelt Authority
Urban Counties Caucus
