Although more and more signs point to a recovering economy, San Mateo County's homeless population isn't among them.
In the last two years the number of homeless people without shelter has risen 12 percent, according to a report released Friday by the county's human services agency.
The report is based on a census conducted in January. To distribute federal funds to help homeless people, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires a regional count every two years.
The January census counted 1,298 people living on county streets, inside vehicles or in makeshift encampments. That's 136 more people than the 1,162 tallied in 2011.
A closer look reveals that the number of people living on the streets and encampments actually dropped by 115, but those detected living in cars and recreational vehicles increased by 251.
Wendy Goldberg from the county's housing office blamed the long economic downturn and a persistent shortage of affordable housing for the homeless plight. She said the county plans to investigate why more people seem to be using their vehicles for shelter.
"Are they families? Individuals? Chronically homeless people?" Goldberg said. She speculated that some might have recently lost their jobs or been priced out of their homes.
"The rents are just rising, rising, rising," Goldberg said.
In San Mateo County, Redwood City counted the most homeless people -- 307. South San Francisco had 172; Pacifica, 150; East Palo Alto, 119; Half Moon Bay, 112; San Mateo, 103; and San Bruno, 101.
All other areas cities counted fewer than 50, including Brisbane, Colma, Foster City, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, San Carlos and Woodside with fewer than 20. No homeless people were found in Atherton or Hillsborough.
The number of homeless people in shelters decreased by 1 percent, from 987 to 982.
In an effort to reduce the homeless population, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday set aside $1.5 million of Measure A sales tax revenue approved by voters in November for two programs. One, a homeless shelter in East Palo Alto that operates during the winter and early spring, would receive $1.2 million over two years to stay open year-round. The other, which sends county workers to find and assist homeless people, would get $300,000 over two years to add the equivalent of 2.5 full-time employees.
Final decisions on the allocations will be made in September, when the board votes on the county's overall budget.