Lake Elsinore reports 179 exits from homelessness in 2024; task force outlines outreach numbers and point-in-time count

Councilwoman Johnson delivered the Homeless Task Force monthly report to the Lake Elsinore City Council, summarizing coordinated outreach activity and year-to-date outcomes for 2024.

Johnson said the task force—s coordinated —trifecta— outreach (city code enforcement/quality-of-life teams, sheriff outreach and the SWAG street outreach team) recorded 33 contacts in December and identified five people as newly documented in the homelessness data system. "Anytime they make contact with an individual that doesn't have a roof over their head, that's considered a contact because they're put into the delayed entry system program," Johnson said.

She highlighted a year-to-date total of 179 exits from homelessness in 2024 and estimated the city—s chronic homeless population at roughly 100 to 160 individuals. Johnson cautioned the council not to conflate visibility with quantity: many people reported as homeless are moved frequently by outreach and enforcement activity. "We don't have a lot of new homeless," she said, noting that early intervention is prioritized for newly homeless people and chronic cases remain difficult to transition.

Johnson encouraged community participation in the county—s point-in-time count early in January. "If this is something you're interested in, there's a reg we'll have it on our website. You can register. You can come down. You can be a part of the process," she said, and the council agreed to publicize volunteer opportunities.

The report described efforts to increase mental-health service connections and called for ongoing outreach. No formal council action was taken; staff will continue monthly reporting and outreach coordination.