The homelessness crisis in the Bay Area is worse than many think, according to a new study published by Zillow.

The study says there were an estimated 25,951 people living without homes in the Bay Area last year, which is over 6,000 more than were officially counted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Donna Colombo, is the Executive Director of the Trinity Center in Walnut Creek which provides, shelter, food, and resources to homeless people in Contra Costa County.

She says they have seen a steady increase in people coming through their doors looking for help and she is seeing more families and seniors than before.

“The fastest rising population are seniors. They’re losing, um, their homes because their pensions, they just can’t afford the rent anymore, and there’s no new affordable housing being built,” Colombo said. “We’re seeing more families. Families just can’t make it, it’s either food or rent, and we just got, um, statewide about 50- to 60-thousand more homeless people because of the fires. So if people want to know what are the kinds of things that they can do, is they can come and get involved. They can help serve lunch, they can help serve dinner for the Winter shelter, they can spend time being a friend, sit and have lunch, sit and have dinner. We accept donations of clothing and always donations of food, can food, non-perishable food that we give out.”

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