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Moreno Valley nonprofits report rising service demand as county point‑in‑time unsheltered count falls
Summary
Nonprofit providers told the council they are serving more clients and higher operating costs while the county’s 2025 point‑in‑time count shows a countywide fall in unsheltered homelessness and a methodological increase in sheltered counts; Moreno Valley’s unsheltered count fell to 55, a 28.5% decline from 2023.
Moreno Valley — Local homelessness providers told the City Council in public comment that demand and program costs rose in the second quarter while a county‑run point‑in‑time (PIT) count presented to the council showed a decline in unsheltered homelessness but a rise in sheltered counts driven by changed HUD definitions.
Countywide, staff reported that 3,990 people were counted in the 2025 PIT — sheltered and unsheltered combined. City Manager Ryan Mohan summarized the county’s figures to the council: “3,990, total sheltered and unsheltered, were part of the point in time count in 2025,” and he noted that the total represented a 7% increase from 2023. Mohan and staff clarified the increase was driven by changes in HUD’s methodology for counting sheltered populations; unsheltered counts countywide were down: “1,978 total unsheltered … a 19% decrease from 2023,” Mohan said.
At the city level, Mohan said Moreno Valley’s unsheltered count fell from 77 in 2023 to 55 in 2025 — a 28.5% decrease — while the city’s total sheltered and unsheltered count increased to 154 because of the expanded sheltered definition. Mohan credited coordinated local programs and recent investments for part of the unsheltered decline, citing partnerships with Inland Compassion, Building Up Lives, The Hole in the Wall, Salvation Army and county mental‑health mobile crisis teams.
Nonprofit speakers at the council meeting described rising caseloads and costs. Richard Bolter, chief financial officer for The Hole in the Wall, said the agency saw a 41% increase in new clients in the first quarter of 2025 and reported second‑quarter expenses of $26,035.92: “We have used 15% more funds than last year at this time,” Bolter said, describing higher operating and program expenses for hygiene items, lunches and bus passes. Operations manager David Nielsen said the organization’s average weekly foot traffic is about 40 to 50 people and that his group’s success rate — clients who access programs and move off the street — rose from about 36% to 41%.
Silence Aloud Incorporated, a Moreno Valley‑based nonprofit, told the council its Bridge Wellness Center provides services for youth and transition‑age populations and has been selected as Riverside County’s primary drop‑in center for the county’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program funded by HUD. Founder Kanesa Jones outlined services that will include hygiene supplies, food, clothing, transportation assistance and peer navigation.
Council members acknowledged provider reports and thanked volunteers and nonprofit staff. Mohan urged continuing coordination with county and regional partners to convert unsheltered individuals into services and shelter placements. He also said the county’s full PIT report would be distributed to the council when it becomes available; staff noted the county’s full technical report was expected after the initial infographic the council received.
What this means locally: The unsheltered count’s decline is a positive operational signal, but staff and providers cautioned that sheltered‑count increases reflect definitional changes that complicate trend comparisons. Providers continue to report rising demand and program costs, and the council and staff signaled continued investment in partnerships and outreach programs will be part of their ongoing response.
