SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- A new survey finds that the number of homeless people in Santa Clara County has dropped, but the number of chronically homeless people has dramatically increased, along with homeless people abusing drugs and alcohol.
According to the county's homeless survey, there was a 2 percent drop in the number of homeless people compared with two years ago, and only 1 percent reported being forced out of their homes because of foreclosure.
But despite the good news, the census also found that the number of chronically homeless people jumped 35 percent and the number of homeless people who abuse drugs and alcohol also increased from 30 to 41 percent.
KCBS’ Betsy Gebhart reports
InnVision Program Director Julia Burkhead says the foreclosure crisis is affecting a vast number of people who have been kicked out of their homes, many of which are unsuspecting renters and not homeowners.
“Long before the media ever picked up on the story of the foreclosure crisis we were seeing the tenants who were starting to get evicted, who weren’t getting their security deposits back and who were getting no notice.”
Burkhead said the good news is that the home price nosedive is causing the rental market to finally open, making housing slightly more affordable.
To read more about the survey, visit www.sccgov.org and look under “Hot Items.”
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