
Number of homeless residents in Los Angeles County decreases in annual count
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of homeless residents counted in Los Angeles County has dipped slightly, decreasing by about 0.3% since last year as California continues to struggle with the long-running crisis of tens of thousands of people sleeping in cars and encampments. Janice Hahn, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement that "For the first time in years, the number of people sleeping on our streets is down and the number of people in our shelters is up.” LA County is the nation’s most populous, with about 10 million people. The problem is most apparent in downtown Los Angeles, where thousands of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks in the notorious neighborhood known as Skid Row.
History of this topic

Los Angeles moves to take control of homelessness agency, citing audits that found reckless spending
Associated Press
Homeless deaths in L.A. County are leveling off but still nearly seven per day
LA Times
Editorial: Prevention is key to solving L.A.'s homelessness crisis
LA Times
Editorial: Out on the streets to count L.A.’s unhoused, volunteers learn far more than numbers can convey
LA Times
Immigration made homeless numbers worse than they actually were in 2024
LA Times
L.A. County officials need federal aid. How long can they play nice with Trump?
LA Times
Letters to the Editor: These problems will always prevent L.A. from solving homelessness
LA Times
Opinion: On homelessness, liberal California and the ultraconservative Supreme Court largely agree
LA Times
A radical reshaping of L.A. County’s homeless services system is proposed
LA Times
Nearly half of L.A.’s record homelessness budget went unspent, city controller finds
LA Times
L.A. County homeless tax ahead in early returns. Voters deadlocked on enlarging board of supes
LA Times
State sues Southern California city that banned new homeless shelters
LA Times
Los Angeles’ $22-billion homelessness problem gives leaders a choice: Double down or change strategies
LA Times
More shelter beds and a crackdown on tents means fewer homeless encampments in San Francisco
The Independent
The under-the-radar proposal to end homelessness in Los Angeles for $20 billion
LA Times
Long Beach begins citywide homeless sweeps. But where will the unhoused go?
LA Times
Homeless people will face fines, possible arrest in Long Beach crackdown, city official says
LA Times
Bass vows not to bus homeless people out for 2028 Olympics. But what will L.A. do?
LA Times
As San Francisco cracks down on homeless encampments, a question rises: Where will people go?
LA Times
Gavin Newsom orders California to remove homeless encampments after Supreme Court ruling
The Independent
Newsom orders California agencies to clear homeless camps, but the impact remains a question
LA Times
Homeless encampment cleanups do little to change numbers of people on the street, study finds
LA Times
Number of homeless residents in Los Angeles County decreases in annual count
Associated Press
For the first time since 2018, homeless count finds fewer people living on L.A. streets
LA Times
Editorial: Drop in L.A.’s homeless population shows efforts to house people are paying off
LA Times
Sacramento homeless count shows a 29% drop. But are the results ‘outstanding’ or ‘unbelievable’?
LA Times
Homelessness down in Long Beach, up in Orange County, latest counts find
LA Times
Homeless Initiative awarded $51.5 million to assist 105 Freeway and river encampments
LA Times
Meet the homeless L.A. immigrants who built a DIY home in gentrifying Highland Park
LA Times
Editorial: L.A. officials lied to justify seizing homeless people’s belongings. That’s despicable
LA Times
Man builds entire home next to LA freeway
The Independent
Mayor Karen Bass urges L.A.’s wealthy to fund homeless housing
LA Times
Letters to the Editor: California doesn’t know if $20 billion spent on homelessness has worked. Who gets fired?
LA Times
How effective are California's homelessness programs? State hasn't been tracking
The Independent
Opinion: Why is California behind Texas and other states in curbing homelessness?
LA Times
Many homeless in L.A. died from drugs in 2023, preliminary data show
LA Times
Editorial: Why is the federal government refusing to pay L.A. $60 million for housing homeless people?
LA Times
A year ago, L.A. County declared homelessness a state of emergency. Is it working?
LA Times
Editorial: Here’s how Los Angeles can help prevent people from falling into homelessness
LA Times
Photos: 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is underway
LA Times
Annual count of homeless residents begins in Los Angeles, where tens of thousands live on streets
Associated Press
Homelessness is down in South L.A. But nearly 13,000 remain unhoused
LA Times
One year on, has the mayor of LA finally put a dent in homelessness?
The Independent
Thirty years ago, Time magazine asked if L.A. was ‘going to hell.’ Are we there yet?
LA Times
Homeless numbers in Los Angeles could surge again, even as thousands move to temporary shelter
Associated Press
Column: Is L.A. actually solving homelessness? The answer will start with perception, not reality
LA Times
Bass says L.A. has put 21,000 homeless people into interim housing. Here’s what that means
LA Times
Los Angeles criticized for its handling of homelessness after 16 unhoused people escape freeway fire
Associated Press
Los Angeles criticized for its handling of homelessness after 16 homeless people escape freeway fire
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Letters to the Editor: A homeless man built himself a makeshift home. The city’s response was awful
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