San Clemente Challenges County's Homeless Count Findings, Citing Methodology Concerns
San Clemente city officials have expressed strong opposition to the findings of the recent Point in Time (PIT) homeless count, which indicated an increase in both unsheltered and sheltered homeless populations in the city. The PIT count, a federally mandated biennial survey, reported a 13.7% decrease in overall homelessness across Orange County, with a notable reduction in unsheltered individuals. However, San Clemente was the only city in South Orange County to report an increase, with unsheltered numbers rising from 65 to 74 and sheltered individuals increasing from 36 to 39. Mayor Rick Loeffler and other city officials have criticized the count's methodology, suggesting inaccuracies in the data collection process. They argue that individuals sleeping in state parks were incorrectly counted as part of San Clemente's homeless population. Despite these claims, Doug Becht, the county's Care Coordination director, defended the count's accuracy, stating it adheres to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel... 
