Sacramento Sees Record Homeless Deaths, with Increase Expected to Continue

Drug-related deaths and heart issues are among the leading causes, with a disproportionate impact on the Black population.

Homeless deaths in Sacramento have increased by over 400% since 2013, with at least 250 people dying in 2022 and at least 227 in 2023, a number expected to rise.
In 2023, the causes of death among the homeless included drugs (100 deaths, including 47 related to fentanyl), heart issues (22 deaths), and various other causes such as frostbite, falling trees, homicides, drownings, suicides, and vehicle or train accidents.
Demographically, the majority of those who died were white (233), and 78% were male. The ages ranged from a four-day-old infant to a 75-year-old individual.
Deaths were disproportionately high among the Black population, with 19% of the deaths being Black individuals, compared to the overall Black population in Sacramento County of 13%.
Most of the deaths occurred outdoors (39%), with others occurring in locations such as vehicles, hotel rooms, residences that were not their own, and hospitals. Deaths were more common in winter and summer months.