One-day count of homeless people in Indio shows 53% decline from 2023

Riverside County’s 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time Count revealed a decrease of about 53% in unsheltered homeless people in Indio according to data released Thursday.

The count, conducted on Jan. 22, identified 3,990 people experiencing homelessness in the county, an increase of 265 individuals compared to 2023, the last time a full count was taken. There is no data for 2024 because the county opted to switch to a biennial count.

The survey is not a comprehensive accounting of all unhoused people, but rather a snapshot of what the population looks like on a single day. Though imperfect and most likely an undercount, the point-in-time count is important for counties and cities to estimate the level of need and apply for federal funding to address homelessness.

In Indio, this year the county reported 51 unsheltered people, down from 108 in 2023. The number of sheltered people in the city increased by 43%, from 319 in 2023 to 458 in 2025.

The reduction in Indio stands in contrast to Riverside County as a whole, which reported a 7% increase in its total homeless population, counting 3,990 people experiencing homelessness across the region.

Despite the overall increase in countywide numbers, Riverside County officials highlighted a 19% reduction in unsheltered homelessness and significant progress in reducing the growth rate from 15% in 2022 to 12% in 2023, and now to 7% in 2025.

In addition, all four subpopulations — veterans, seniors, families with children, and youth — saw significant reductions.

“It is tremendous progress that we have huge reductions, less people living on the streets and more having access to shelters,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

The county reported a 57% increase in shelter bed capacity since 2023 and an 11% increase over 2024, contributing to the reduction in unsheltered individuals.

Perez added that collaborations between county, city and nonprofit organizations have yielded measurable results. “By targeting the root causes of homelessness and expanding access to housing and care, we are helping more residents find stability and hope.”

“With more individuals accessing shelter, the reduction in unsheltered homelessness is both meaningful and indicative of system-wide progress,” Heidi Marshall, director of the Riverside County Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions, said via a news release issued Thursday.

The count was coordinated by the Office of Homeless Services in partnership with the Riverside County Continuum of Care, a network of public and private homeless service providers.

The Point-in-Time Count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides data used to assess regional needs and guide strategic planning for addressing homelessness.

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