Folsom shows decrease in unsheltered homeless - a rarity in the region

Folsom is one of the only cities in the region that is showing a decrease in its number of unsheltered homeless people, according to the latest count of homeless people in the region. This year's Point-in-Time (PIT) Count data has been released and it shows the number of unsheltered people in Folsom has decreased by 40 percent, a significant exception to the experience of other cities in the region. The PIT Count is a federally-mandated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people; this information helps officials get a sense of the homeless problem, and what level of funding and services are needed in response to the numbers. The count happens during the last ten days of January and involves counting the number of homeless people using shelter services and those who are unsheltered, meaning living on streets, in cars or other spaces they find. According to Sacramento Steps Forward, which disperses information from the PIT count, there is an annual count of the number of sheltered homeless, and a separate count of the number of estimated unsheltered homeless (the previous counts of unsheltered homeless people happened in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026). According to the 2026 numbers, Folsom had 80 unsheltered homeless people which is a 40 % decrease from 2024, when 133 unsheltered people were recorded. However, while the number of unsheltered people in Folsom decreased dramatically between 2024 and 2026, the overall number of homeless people increased slightly, from 3944 in 2024 to 4205 in 2026. By comparison, the nearby city of Rancho Cordova experienced a marked increase in its unsheltered population with 210 people, a 303.9 % increase from 2024. Citrus Heights also saw an increase of 153.2%, with 157 unsheltered people in 2026. This decrease in unsheltered people in Folsom is significant because it reflects positive progress compared to just a few years ago. Between the years 2022 and 2024, the city showed a dramatic increase of unsheltered people from 20 to 133. In 2026, the numbers trended dramatically downward. Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel told The Folsom Telegraph that the numbers are a reflection of the work various organizations in the community have dedicated to dealing with the growing homeless problem. "Our Folsom PD HOT team and code enforcement along with collaboration with local non-profits on accessing services and providing transitional housing is having an impact," explained Raithel. "We've still got work to do but we're headed in the right direction." Raithel added: "Our region continues to see an increase in both sheltered and unsheltered homeless and we're open to working with our neighbors on regional policies and solutions." While Folsom showed an improvement in its unsheltered numbers, Sacramento County overall showed a 13 % increase. In 2026, Sacramento County showed 7,458 homeless people on a given night, with 3,253 sheltered and 4,205 of those people unsheltered. While the PIT numbers are considered an important barometer for community leaders, some officials have expressed cynicism in their validity, considering the count happens during a specific moment in time that may be fluid and changing. For more information about the PIT numbers and insights into the results, you can visit: https://www.sacramentostepsforward.org/data-and-analytics/sacramento-point-in-time-count-data/#chronic-homelessness