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Homelessness in Los Angeles county declines for second straight year Homelessness in Los Angeles county declines for second straight year
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LA reports 72,308 people as unhoused, a 4% decrease from last year, as California pushes to break up encampmentsLA reports 72,308 people as unhoused, a 4% decrease from last year, as California pushes to break up encampments
Homelessness in Los Angeles county declined by 4% to an estimated 72,308 people in 2025, the Los Angeles homeless services authority (Lahsa) announced on Monday.Homelessness in Los Angeles county declined by 4% to an estimated 72,308 people in 2025, the Los Angeles homeless services authority (Lahsa) announced on Monday.
The southern California metropolitan area previously reported its highest unhoused population in 2023, when it counted 75,518 people experiencing homelessness. That count decreased slightly to 75,312 people in 2024.The southern California metropolitan area previously reported its highest unhoused population in 2023, when it counted 75,518 people experiencing homelessness. That count decreased slightly to 75,312 people in 2024.
“For the first time in our city’s recent history, homelessness has gone down two years in a row,” the Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, said at a press conference announcing the results of Lahsa’s annual point-in-time count.“For the first time in our city’s recent history, homelessness has gone down two years in a row,” the Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, said at a press conference announcing the results of Lahsa’s annual point-in-time count.
The estimate is based on a count conducted over three days in February 2025, and includes people living on the street and people in shelters. For the first time in its history, the point in time count was entered entirely digitally, a change the agency hopes will improve speed and accuracy in future counts.The estimate is based on a count conducted over three days in February 2025, and includes people living on the street and people in shelters. For the first time in its history, the point in time count was entered entirely digitally, a change the agency hopes will improve speed and accuracy in future counts.
“Reducing homelessness is now a trend in the city and the county,” said Lahsa’s CEO, Va Lecia Adams Kellum.“Reducing homelessness is now a trend in the city and the county,” said Lahsa’s CEO, Va Lecia Adams Kellum.
Unsheltered homelessness in the city of Los Angeles dropped by 7.9% from 2024, for a total of a 17.5% decrease since 2023. About two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are unsheltered. The number of people in shelter rose by 4.7%. Lahsa noted a 22% decrease in chronic homelessness, with nearly 6,000 fewer chronically homeless people living on the street.Unsheltered homelessness in the city of Los Angeles dropped by 7.9% from 2024, for a total of a 17.5% decrease since 2023. About two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are unsheltered. The number of people in shelter rose by 4.7%. Lahsa noted a 22% decrease in chronic homelessness, with nearly 6,000 fewer chronically homeless people living on the street.
As in previous years, the majority of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles continue to be overwhelming people of color, particularly Black and Latino people.As in previous years, the majority of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles continue to be overwhelming people of color, particularly Black and Latino people.
Approximately one-third of all unhoused people in the United States live in California. Experts say the devastating crisis is largely due to a lack of affordable housing in one of the most expensive states in the country.Approximately one-third of all unhoused people in the United States live in California. Experts say the devastating crisis is largely due to a lack of affordable housing in one of the most expensive states in the country.
“We chose to reject the status quo which was choosing to leave people on the street until housing was built,” said Bass, who noted that California governor Gavin Newsom texted her a congratulations on her way to the press conference.“We chose to reject the status quo which was choosing to leave people on the street until housing was built,” said Bass, who noted that California governor Gavin Newsom texted her a congratulations on her way to the press conference.
Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness on her first day in office in 2022. During Monday’s press conference, Bass and other Los Angeles area leaders touted the success of the city’s encampment resolutions, funding for interim and permanent housing.Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness on her first day in office in 2022. During Monday’s press conference, Bass and other Los Angeles area leaders touted the success of the city’s encampment resolutions, funding for interim and permanent housing.
“We’ve made real progress towards ending homelessness, and we cannot let that momentum falter now,” said Adams Kellum.“We’ve made real progress towards ending homelessness, and we cannot let that momentum falter now,” said Adams Kellum.
Yet, California has also deployed increasingly aggressive tactics to break up homeless encampments following a 2024 US supreme court ruling that cities can criminalize unhoused people for sleeping outside – even if there are no available shelter spaces.Yet, California has also deployed increasingly aggressive tactics to break up homeless encampments following a 2024 US supreme court ruling that cities can criminalize unhoused people for sleeping outside – even if there are no available shelter spaces.
In February, Newsom warned cities and counties that they could lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding if they do not make progress in clearing out encampments and tackling homelessness. And in May he escalated those warnings, calling for cities to effectively ban encampments “without delay”.In February, Newsom warned cities and counties that they could lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding if they do not make progress in clearing out encampments and tackling homelessness. And in May he escalated those warnings, calling for cities to effectively ban encampments “without delay”.
Earlier this month, California also voted to overhaul its landmark environmental protection rules, to allow for the construction of more housing that might combat the state’s homelessness crisis.Earlier this month, California also voted to overhaul its landmark environmental protection rules, to allow for the construction of more housing that might combat the state’s homelessness crisis.
“Nobody should see these results and think our job is done,” said Katy Yaroslavsky, a Los Angeles city councilmember. “We’re still in a crisis, but for the first time in a long time, we’re seeing the tide start to turn. We’ve learned a lot over the past few years about what it takes to resolve encampments and get people housed for good.”“Nobody should see these results and think our job is done,” said Katy Yaroslavsky, a Los Angeles city councilmember. “We’re still in a crisis, but for the first time in a long time, we’re seeing the tide start to turn. We’ve learned a lot over the past few years about what it takes to resolve encampments and get people housed for good.”
Dennis Oleesky, the CEO of Los Angeles Mission, the city’s oldest homeless services provider, echoed some of those concerns: “Any reduction in homelessness is a step in the right direction – and we should acknowledge even small declines as progress. But let’s be clear: this remains a humanitarian crisis, not a political one. It’s not something that can be fixed with a wave of a wand by any politician or party. A 2% dip is better than an increase, but it’s also a wake-up call that our current approach is not enough. This crisis touches real human lives, and it demands more than policy tweaks – it requires all of us, as citizens, to take part in the solution. We need to pair bold, compassionate action with shared accountability. Only then will we begin to see lasting, meaningful change.”
Lahsa has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the Rand corporation noting earlier this month that the agency’s point-in-time count appeared notably less than its own similar count. In April, the LA county board of supervisors went so far as to end its funding for the joint county-city initiative, instead funneling its support for homelessness services to a new county agency.Lahsa has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the Rand corporation noting earlier this month that the agency’s point-in-time count appeared notably less than its own similar count. In April, the LA county board of supervisors went so far as to end its funding for the joint county-city initiative, instead funneling its support for homelessness services to a new county agency.
Those and other recent budget cuts may mean that this is the last homeless count the agency is able to conduct, Adams Kellum said.Those and other recent budget cuts may mean that this is the last homeless count the agency is able to conduct, Adams Kellum said.