We continue to shine light on Guam’s homeless crisis, as data from the Salvation Army shows there are more people without homes than there are emergency beds available. Here's a look at the shelter shortage and why many people experiencing homelessness aren’t always visible.

"We’re kind of seeing a fraction of the homeless situation in Guam out in the streets. It definitely looks like it’s getting worse," according to Juanito Trinidad. Guam’s homeless crisis is getting worse and it’s not just the people seen on the streets, says Trinidad, who is with the Salvation Army.  Many are hidden in the jungles, under bridges, or living in unsafe structures, out of sight, but very much in need.

There are currently eight emergency shelters with a total of 104 beds. That includes domestic violence shelters, veterans, and youth shelters.

"It’s a small fraction of how many homeless we have out in the streets. Now we do have other shelters, not necessarily emergency shelters, but what’s called the permanent supportive housing. So they are a little bit more homeless, but they are for the homeless though," he added.

Under the Salvation Army, Trinidad oversees homeless shelter data for Guam through the Homeless Management Information System, a centralized database mandated by the US Housing and Urban Development. "Because it’s a centralized database, it gives us an accurate count. It allows us to assess the clients going in and out of our system," he detailed. "And it allows to also to cover the gaps in our services because it’s all contained in one."

Added with transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and other rental voucher programs, he says the island has 853 beds total as of January 2025. But he says it’s still not enough to serve the hundreds of people experiencing homelessness on Guam. According to the latest Point In Time Count, there were 861 people homeless this year. 

Trinidad continued, "There are still a lot of them out there. They congregate. And it’s not just the ones you see. There’s quite a few of them hidden. When we do our homeless count, we find out a lot of them are hidden way inside away from people, because that’s usually who they try to avoid when they see them out in the public congregating, they’ll call GPD and report them in. So they tend to hide inwards."

Trinidad says the problem goes beyond shelter space. There simply isn’t enough affordable, safe and stable housing on the island. 

"Really the only solution to it is to find more beds, and not just emergency shelters. I’m talking about above that. Above emergency shelters, we’re looking at permanent housing for them so they can stay out of the streets, not just for the short term in the emergency shelter and then they’re back out on the streets," he said.

As the homeless crisis continues to grow, he’s concerned the need is out-pacing resources.

In the meantime, he leaves this message for the community to think about during the holidays: "I know there’s a stigma when you see them out in the street. Everyone tries to avoid them. They’re still people. They’re still human beings. You know, even if it’s just to greet them 'Merry Christmas' or 'happy holidays' - that will mean a lot to them.

"They’re just like us. They’re just unfortunate to have fallen into homelessness."