Guam rolls out five-year roadmap to combat homelessness

By Jayvee Vallejera

Homelessness in Guam increased significantly between 2020 and 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual point-in-time count survey.

The homeless population comprises families going through severe financial difficulties, ex-convicts and people with mental and physical disabilities and those suffering from drug addiction.

Exacerbated by the severe lack of affordable housing and transitional shelters, homelessness in Guam is further complicated by inadequate services to address mental health and substance abuse and limited funding.

To provide a collective response, the Division of Homelessness Assistance and Poverty Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services has launched a five-year roadmap to reduce homelessness and poverty in Guam through coordinated, sustainable and compassionate interventions.

Among the initiatives are as follows:

• By Oct. 1 this year, DHAPP will establish a dedicated office location with standardized policies and procedures to help ensure consistent service delivery and operational oversight.

  
  

• By Oct. 1, 2028, DHAPP will establish a centralized accessible drop-in center for essential services, serving a minimum of 200 unique clients within the first year of operation and 500 client visits annually. Services offered will include housing navigation and placement, case management, Medicaid and SNAP benefits enrollment, employment and workforce development support, service navigation and basic needs assistance.

  
  

• By Oct. 1, 2030, DHAPP "will oversee and manage at least one transitional housing program and one shelter program, providing a combined minimum capacity of 50 beds to help ensure safe, temporary housing and pathways to permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness."

The Housing and Urban Development’s survey shows that the number of homeless households in Guam rose by nearly 54 percent across five years. During the same period, the number of homeless individuals grew by more than half, to 58 percent.

In 2025, the total number of homeless households decreased by 26 percent. Individuals experiencing homelessness also decreased by 31 percent between 2024 and 2025.

Unsheltered households decreased by almost 20 percent, from 341 to 274, though they continued to make up the majority of homeless households.

Funding disparities compound these challenges. Guam ranks 50th among 53 states and territories in per-capita homelessness assistance funding, receiving only $925 per person, compared to the national average of $2,822—far below states like Connecticut ($8,464) and Ohio ($7,035).

ADVERTISEMENT

A DHAPP survey in 2025 found that families with children were the ones most in need of help (72 percent), followed by individuals who experience chronic homelessness, those with mental illness and people with disabilities.

Survey respondents identified affordable housing and mental health/substance use services as top priorities, followed by expanding shelter capacity, integrated health and housing systems, workforce development, and improved coordination.

The same survey identified the lack of affordable housing, limited funding, policy barriers, stigma, and insufficient mental health or addiction services as the greatest barrier to addressing homelessness.

DHAPP works in coordination with Medicaid-supported programs to

strengthen access to healthcare, behavioral health and supportive services that are critical to housing stability.

Community input helped shape the plan, including feedback gathered through listening sessions, an online survey and conversations with people who have experienced homelessness.

“The strategic plan provides a clear roadmap for strengthening coordination, improving access to services and ensuring our work is guided by data, accountability, and community input,” said Amanda Shelton, deputy director of Guam DPHSS. “Most importantly, it reflects our commitment to supporting individuals and families with compassion while building long‑term stability across our island.”

DHAPP is the lead agency for homelessness interventions and poverty prevention services.

The strategic plan seeks to close gaps in the system, expand access to services and improve outcomes for individuals and families facing housing instability and economic hardship.

"Our focus is clear: building a comprehensive and compassionate system that not only responds to immediate needs but also plots the course toward long-term solutions," said Rob San Agustin, head of the poverty prevention office.

Subscribe to

our digital

monthly issue