(The Center Square) - The California beachside city of Carlsbad is proposing spending $81,503 per unsheltered homeless individual after its unsheltered homeless population grew 87% between 2023 and 2024.

Notably, only 8% of the proposed $9.1 million budget is for homeless shelters, with a third of the money going to rental assistance payments, a quarter to the police department’s homeless outreach team and another sixth going to case management.

During fiscal year 2022-2023, when Carlsbad spent $4.3 million on homelessness, the point-in-time count near the start of the year identified 103 total homeless individuals, including 43 sheltered and 60 unsheltered.

During fiscal year 2023-2024, Carlsbad spent $5.6 million on homelessness as the overall homeless population grew to 150 individuals, with 38 sheltered and 112 unsheltered, or year-over-year 87% increase in the number of unsheltered homeless.

Carlsbad’s chief contract recipients are Community Resource Center, Catholic Charities and Interfaith Community Services, providing a wide range of staffing, shelter, benefits, outreach and case management services similar to what would be provided by government organizations.

Carlsbad City Manager Geoff Patnoe noted in a January update that calls for police service related to homelessness declined 16%, which could be a sign that homelessness is in decline in the area — or that some residents have given up on calling the police.

Notably, much of the funding growth for the proposed 2025-2026 budget is from grants, including a $3 million state Encampment Resolution grant to help individuals living in vehicles in Carlsbad through services with Interfaith Community Services and Community Resource Center.