The annual Point-in-Time Count is one way cities track the number of people experiencing homelessness. The most recent count was conducted over a four-hour period in the early morning on Jan. 30, 2025. The data was released May 20, 2025.

• The results show the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad was 101, a 10% decrease from the 112 counted in 2024
• Regionwide, unsheltered homelessness decreased by about 7% since 2024.
• While Carlsbad makes up approximately 3.5% of the region’s population, it has less than 1.8% of the region’s unsheltered population.

Point-in-Time Count data over the years

2025: 143 individuals - 42 sheltered; 101 unsheltered 

2024: 150 individuals - 38 sheltered; 112 unsheltered

2023: 103 individuals - 43 sheltered; 60 unsheltered

2022: 118 individuals - 43 sheltered; 75 unsheltered

2020: 148 individuals - 54 sheltered; 94 unsheltered

2019: 161 individuals - 59 sheltered, 102 unsheltered

While the Point-in-Time Count provides useful data to point out regional trends, it only provides a snapshot of information, which may or may not accurately reflect the size of the city’s homeless population over a sustained period of time. For this reason, the count does not provide enough conclusive evidence to measure progress towards the City Council’s goal of reducing homelessness in Carlsbad.

Progress reports

The city reports on a variety of data points in alignment with the city’s Homelessness Action Plan to inform the City Council and the public about the progress the city is making toward its goal to reduce homelessness and its effects on the community.

Fiscal Year 2024-25 annual report (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025)
Fiscal Year 2023-24 annual report (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Fiscal Year 2023-24 semiannual report (July 1, to Dec. 31, 2023)
Fiscal Year 2022-23 annual report (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023)
Fiscal Year 2022-23 first semiannual report (July 1 to Dec. 31, 2022)
Fifth quarterly report (July 1 to Sept. 30, 2022)
Fourth quarterly report (April 1 to June 30, 2022)
Third quarterly report (Jan. 1 to March 31, 2022)
Second quarterly report (Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021)
First quarterly report (July 1 to Sept. 30, 2021)

According to the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, a record high of 10,605 people in San Diego County were experiencing homelessness in 2024, including 6,110 living outdoors or in vehicles.

This represents a 3% increase since the 2023 count.

North County

According to the 2024 annual Point-in-Time Count: 

• North County represents approximately 37% of San Diego County’s population.
• About 16%, or at least 1,741 people of the San Diego region’s homeless population on any given night is in North County.
• Between 2023 and 2024 North County experienced a 21% increase in homelessness.
• The total number of people experiencing homelessness in the North County Coastal area increased from 783 in 2023 to 865 in 2024, an increase of 11%.
• The North County Coastal unsheltered population increased from 423 individuals in 2023 to 596 individuals in 2024, an increase of 41%.
• The North County overall area experienced a 47% increase in the unsheltered population.

According to the annual Point-in-Time Count:

More than half-a million people experienced homelessness in the United States last year.  

The largest number of people experiencing homelessness were individuals followed by people in families, people experiencing chronic homelessness, veterans, and unaccompanied youth.

California has the highest number of people experiencing homelessness followed by the states of New York, Florida, Texas and Washington.

Since 2020, California’s overall homeless population has increased about 6% compared to 0.4% in the rest of the country.

Most of the increase in California results from a 17% increase in the number of people living in a shelter while experiencing homelessness. The unsheltered homeless population, which is more visible, has increased 2% since 2020.