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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2025
VICTORVILLE, Calif. — The number of unsheltered individuals in Victorville dropped by 57 percent in one year according to San Bernardino County’s 2025 Point in Time Count released last month. Of the eight cities with the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the County, Victorville experienced the greatest decrease (326 to 141) in its unsheltered population, defined as individuals living in places not meant for human habitation such as on the street or in vehicles. Additionally, Victorville’s overall homeless count, which includes unsheltered individuals and those living in shelters and interim housing, dropped by 27 percent since 2024 (611 to 448). Now, Victorville’s homeless count is the lowest it’s been in five years.
“We are emboldened to see that our homelessness solutions strategy is working,” said Victorville Mayor Liz Becerra. “By increasing access to shelter, medical care, and much-needed wraparound support services, we are helping the most vulnerable in our community find their route to wellness and stabilize their lives. We are committed to further reducing homelessness in Victorville for the benefit of our community.”
At the heart of Victorville’s strategy is its Wellness Center, a low-barrier, non-congregate emergency shelter that offers interim housing, wraparound support services, recuperative care, and a medical clinic on-site. With expenses reimbursed through Medi-Cal, the medical clinic and recuperative care are self-sustaining services.
Since its grand opening in December 2023, over 660 individuals from Victorville streets were admitted to the Wellness Center where they received or are receiving supportive services tailored to their unique needs. This individualized approach has been successful with 156 clients having graduated into permanent housing.
The City of Victorville constructed its Wellness Center on City-owned land with most of the funding coming from a $28 million Homekey grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Additionally, the City used revenue from Measure P, the one-cent sales tax approved by Victorville voters in 2022, to fund a Homeless Engagement Team that canvases the Victorville community, engages with the City's unhoused, and connects them with helpful resources like the Wellness Center.
Nearly 50 percent of the clients served at the Wellness Center are chronically homeless meaning they have experienced homelessness for at least a year or repeatedly over a longer period while struggling with a disabling condition like a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability. More than 30 percent of Wellness Center clients are over the age of 55.
This year, 53 volunteers participated in the City of Victorville’s point in time count, demonstrating a shared commitment to identifying solutions to homelessness throughout the city.
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 more than 135,000 residents and some of the area’s largest employers. Clean air, abundant mountain vistas, family-friendly recreational 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.
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