Eureka police told the City Council on May 19 that this year’s homeless survey drew 239 responses, up from 221 in 2024, in a presentation that also highlighted treatment bottlenecks and other service gaps.
According to the council meeting agenda, the police department listed the homeless survey as a presentation item. The meeting summary said officers described the survey as a self-reported snapshot meant to capture local needs more directly than the county’s point-in-time count.
The summary said the city completed the survey over four weeks, from the first week of March through the first week of April. It also said the discussion covered persistent needs around bathrooms, laundry, showers, affordable housing, income, and treatment access.
Officials said getting people into treatment has become harder because more services now require appointments and staffing remains tight. The meeting summary says the discussion included Care Court, Drug Medi-Cal, Waterfront Recovery and Crossroads, along with the city’s efforts to connect unhoused residents with behavioral health and housing support.
The agenda for the meeting also showed the survey presentation came during a session that included a Public Works Week proclamation and later council business on parking, alley naming and offshore drilling opposition.
The council is scheduled to take up a budget meeting next week, which could make the survey data part of broader discussions about city priorities.
