Victorville’s Unsheltered Homeless Count Down 68% Since 2024
Published on May 08, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2026
VICTORVILLE, Calif. — The number of unsheltered homeless individuals in Victorville has decreased 68 percent in the past two years and overall homeless is down 28 percent, according to the most recent Point in Time Count released by the County of San Bernardino last week. Victorville’s overall homeless count is now the lowest it’s been in six years, and the City that once had the second highest homeless count in San Bernardino County now ranks third behind the cities of San Bernardino and Fontana.
“The steep decline in Victorville’s homelessness is a direct result of our City’s strategy prioritizing transitional housing, healthcare, and street outreach through our Victorville Wellness Center that opened in December 2023,” said Victorville Mayor Liz Becerra. “We are gratified to see our Wellness Center be so impactful in such a short time.”
The County’s 2026 Point in Time Count shows that Victorville is the only High Desert City whose homeless count decreased since last year. Victorville’s unsheltered homeless count – those living on the street or other uninhabitable locations – is now 104 in 2026, down from 141 in 2025 and 326 in 2024. The City’s overall homeless count, which includes the unsheltered in addition to those living in shelters is now 441 in 2026, down from 448 in 2025 and 611 in 2024.
According to City leaders, the unsheltered count is significant because it represents the most visible and vulnerable state of homelessness, while those in shelters are being moved from crisis and street homelessness into safer environments where long-term housing outcomes become increasingly achievable.
“Having our unsheltered homeless count decline so significantly since opening our Wellness Center shows that our strategy is working and it’s been possible through the tremendous effort of our City Staff, community collaborators, and our Wellness Center operator, Symba,” said Victorville City Manager Keith Metzler. “We are committed to continuing the hard work to reduce homelessness in Victorville even further for the benefit of our community.”
The Victorville Wellness Center is a low-barrier, non-congregate interim housing facility developed by the City of Victorville primarily using a $28 million HomeKey grant from the State of California. In addition to providing interim housing, the innovative 170-bed campus offers on-site medical and supportive services designed to help individuals and families stabilize and transition toward permanent housing. The Wellness Center also accommodates pets, helping remove common barriers that often prevent individuals from accepting shelter and supportive care.
Additionally, the City used revenue from Measure P, the one-cent sales tax approved by Victorville voters in 2020, to fund a Homeless Engagement Team that canvases the Victorville community, engages with the City's unhoused, and connects them to helpful resources like the Wellness Center. The team is supported by the City’s Animal Care and Control Officers who coordinate the entry of animals to the Center. The team is further supported by County partners and local nonprofit organizations that provide critical assistance with case management, housing navigation, diversion services, family reunification, placement into appropriate levels of care, and ultimately helping clients secure permanent housing.
As of May 7, 265 clients have graduated from the Wellness Center to permanent housing in just two-and-a-half years of operations.
Additional information about the City of Victorville’s homelessness solutions strategy and its Wellness Center is available online at VictorvilleCA.gov/HomelessnessSolutions.
Located in Southern California at the high-point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Victorville is the leading city for both industry and retail in the High Desert Region. Victorville is a growing, vibrant community that is home to nearly 142,000 residents and some of the area’s largest employers, including the City-operated Southern California Logistics Airport. Clean air, abundant mountain vistas, family-friendly recreation activities, spectacular sunsets, and breathtaking night skies entice locals and visitors alike to fall in love with this city that is within a few hours of SoCal beaches, National Parks, mountain retreats, and other major attractions. Ontario International Airport is less than an hour away. Learn more about the City of Victorville at VictorvilleCA.gov.
Symba is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health, healing, housing, and long-term stability for the community’s most vulnerable populations. Through a comprehensive wraparound service model, Symba provides recuperative care, primary care services, case management, substance use disorder (SUD) assistance, behavioral health support, and connections to housing and supportive services for both insured and uninsured individuals. By integrating medical care, behavioral health services, life skills support, and compassionate outreach, Symba works alongside individuals and families to address immediate needs while building pathways to long-term recovery and stability. Learn more about Symba at symbacenter.org.
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