Savannah sees 22.5% decline in homeless rates

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) -Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announced Tuesday morning that the city is seeing a decline in homelessness.

The latest “point in time count” results were presented to city leaders, showing progress in the community. Johnson said the goal is to continue working towards providing basic needs for everyone.

“We have seen a 22.5% reduction in persons experiencing homelessness in here in Savannah,” he said.

He said in 2023, 745 people were experiencing homelessness. So far in 2024, that number is now down to 579.

This includes people who are unsheltered, in emergency shelters, or in transitional housing.

“Working together, working collaboratively, funding partners who are doing the work is working,” Johnson continued.

News 3 is told the “point in time count” is a snapshot, capturing a single night of homelessness in a community. Jennifer Dulong, executive director of Savannah-Chatham Authority of the Homeless, said it takes a village to get positive results.

“It’s a village mentality,” she said. “There’s an ecosystem of service providers and we are all working in ways that are filling gap in services in our community.”

She went on to say they are also seeing a decline in encampment areas. She told News 3 the “point in time count” showcased 87 encampments in 2023. In 2024, that number now sits at 51.

Moving forward, Dulong said they will continue to work toward functional zero. That means providing transportation, mobile showers, housing opportunities and much more.

“Our homeless service system will be so robust that when persons in crisis, they can quickly engage in a homeless service system and their needs will be met,” Dulong said. “Even if they are in emergency shelter for a time period, they will have an opportunity to exit that shelter into some form of housing to stabilize in life”