Homeless Response and Support

• In 2023, the City Council implemented a range of expanded renter protections. These measures included a reduction in the security deposit limit for unfurnished rental units, an extension of just cause eviction protections, and a reduction in the amount of time a renter must occupy a property to qualify for these protections. Following City Council approval, a new renter registry program was launched on October 1, 2024. This program is designed to support data-driven policies and inform the development of future programs and resources. Read more about renter protections.

• Additionally, in 2025, the City Council adopted four Council Priorities, one focused on housing: Implementing Housing Strategies for Social & Economic Balance. Following this adoption, Council approved a series of Council objectives to advance their Council Priorities that are action oriented, and timebound, including several that relate to supporting housing and affordable housing development, making it easier to build accessory dwelling units, ensuring the completion of the City’s Homekey Palo Alto interim housing, and present options to address homelessness impacts, particularly relating to individuals living in vehicles, to Policy & Services Committee for prioritization.

• In late 2024 and early 2025, the Council reviewed a staff presentation on unhoused services and programs, and reviewed a homelessness gap analysis. Read the gap analysis.(PDF, 11MB)

• In August 2025, staff presented findings and recommendations to the Council’s Policy and Services Committee regarding policies and programs related to the increased number of community members living in oversized vehicles in Palo Alto. Policy and Services voted to advance a phased plan for Council consideration. Read the summary of the Committee actions.(PDF, 528KB)

• Renter Protections & Mediation Program: Palo Alto residents can receive information on tenants' rights and responsibilities, as well as resources for resolving housing problems. These resources include assistance from Project Sentinel, which helps with issues such as discrimination, foreclosure, and rental disputes, and the Palo Alto Mediation Program, which offers free mediation services for landlord/tenant conflicts and other housing-related disputes. For more information, residents can contact Project Sentinel at (888) 324-7468 or reach the Palo Alto Mediation Program at (650) 856-4062 or email pamediation@housing.org. 

• Funding and Building Affordable Housing: In 2023, the City contributed $20.5 million to the 59-unit Wilton Court Apartments, hosted its first affordable housing resource fair, and formed a temporary Housing Ad Hoc Committee. In 2024, the City received Housing Element certification and focused on advancing several programs and plans to increase housing and affordable housing in Palo Alto. In addition, the City continues to focus on preserving affordability and improve conditions at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park. Learn more about affordable housing in Palo Alto here

  
  

The City of Palo Alto employs a balanced approach to enforcing laws related to homelessness, ensuring public health and safety while maintaining respect for individuals’ dignity. In 2024, two significant legal developments impacted local enforcement practices. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson decision removed restrictions on enforcing camping laws in public spaces, allowing cities to regulate camping regardless of available shelter. Additionally, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to prioritize removing encampments on state property that pose an imminent risk to health and safety. While these developments support enforcement efforts, they highlight ongoing challenges, such as the need for more affordable housing, services, and shelter options. 

The Palo Alto Police Department, through its Special Problems Detail (SPD), works to address quality of life issues and enforces local laws, including regulations on public nuisances, alcohol, and outdoor fires. Officers focus on compliance through education, outreach, and, when necessary, citations or arrests. The City also manages parking enforcement, responding to complaints about vehicles parked for extended periods or used inappropriately. 

Public cooperation, such as reporting suspicious behavior or requesting cleanups via Palo Alto 311, plays a critical role in supporting enforcement efforts. However, enforcement alone is not a comprehensive solution to homelessness and must be combined with housing solutions and support services for long-term impact.  

January 2026 Oversized Vehicles Community Open House Handout(PDF, 470KB)

Balancing Oversized Vehicles, Health and Safety Issues & Enhancing Resources For Our Unhoused Community Blog

October 2025 City Council Oversized Vehicles Staff Report

February 2025 Housing and Unhoused Services Staff Report and Gap Analysis

Policy Services Committee Oversized Vehicles Staff Report

County Community Plan to End Homelessness

Point in Time Count

June 2025 data released offer a Countywide perspective on homelessness noting the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County rose by 8.2% compared to the 2023 PIT count, going from 9,903 to 10,711 people.

Additional information by jurisdiction was released on September 23, with 418 people counted experiencing homelessness in Palo Alto, compared to 206 people in 2023. Palo Alto continues to have more unsheltered people living in vehicles than the County as a whole noting of those unsheltered in Palo Alto, 73 percent were in vehicles, while 37 percent were in vehicles countywide. In Palo Alto, there were 168 vehicles (29 cars, 120 RVs, 19 vans) counted, 35 of which were in safe parking. *

Other Santa Clara County cities with increases include Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Mountain View. With the release of the data by jurisdiction, the County noted increases countywide were largely due to the number of people residing in vehicles. The County used a new survey methodology in 2025, so comparing to prior years is fundamentally not the same. What we can take from this snapshot in time is addressing homelessness in the County and specifically in Palo Alto continues to be an extremely complex issue impacting communities across California and the nation.

The following chart shares a snapshot of Palo Alto’s Point In Time Count over the past several years:

In addition, 80 of the 418 people experiencing homelessness or 19% voluntarily shared details about how they became unhoused during the Point In Time Count.

Go to the County’s PIT Count Report

Download the full report

Read an executive summary

*The County recently published a correction notice on the 2025 PIT Count. This related to an error in their vendor’s calculation of “outdoors”, which inadvertently excluded people living in tents. This correction does not impact overall numbers—it only changes the breakdown of people staying outside and in vehicles. Key changes include revising Palo Alto unsheltered individuals in vehicles from 76 to 73 percent and countywide unsheltered individuals in vehicles from 46 to 37 percent.

Report an Issue

Important City Phone Numbers 

Report suspicious behavior or criminal activity to our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413 or dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.

Request cleanup of debris or materials left in public areas such as streets, sidewalks, parks, or City parking garages, use Palo Alto 311 or contact the Public Works Department at (650) 496-6974.

Find Services for the Unhoused

Find information about the City's existing renter protections