LA Homelessness Drops for Second Year.

Homelessness in Los Angeles declined for a second consecutive year in 2025, with key gains in shelter use and reduced street encampments. Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe program, affordable housing efforts like Prop HHH, and evolving policies at the state level are making a difference—but not without cost or controversy. The challenge remains complex, but the progress is real.

For the second year in a row, Los Angeles County’s homeless numbers have declined, breaking a decades-long streak of increases. Thanks to shifting policies, urgent programs like Inside Safe, and millions in new investments, the city and county have posted real, if complicated, progress. This post explores where the numbers are moving, why the decline is happening, what’s still not working, and what some Angelenos think needs to happen next.

Back in 2018, I used to drive down Sunset Boulevard dodging tents and orange cones—sometimes it felt like a maze just getting home. Fast forward to 2025, and something interesting is happening: for the first time in years, LA’s homeless count is dropping, not rising. We’ll dig into what’s driving this shift, what’s working (and what’s not), plus a few surprises I stumbled on when putting this together. Spoiler: it’s not just about getting people off the street.

The Rollercoaster of Counting: How LAHSA Crunches the Numbers

Every February, Los Angeles transforms into a citywide census operation. If you’ve ever wondered how the Homelessness Count Methodology actually works, picture this: thousands of volunteers, bundled up against the chill, clipboards in hand, fanning out across 4,000 square miles. There’s no fancy tech—just old-school tallying, lots of coffee, and a determination to put real numbers behind Los Angeles Homelessness.

This year, the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) reported something that hasn’t happened in a while—a second straight year of declining homelessness. According to the Homelessness Statistics 2025, there are now an estimated 72,308 people experiencing homelessness in LA County. That’s a 4% drop from last year. In the city itself, the count fell 3.4% to 43,699. Even more striking, street homelessness in LA dropped by 7.9%, while the number of people staying in shelters rose by 4.7%—a shift many credit to Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe program.

So, how does LAHSA actually get these numbers? The Homelessness Count Methodology is a massive, three-day operation. Volunteers don’t just count people—they count tents, vehicles, makeshift shelters, and then follow up with interviews to get a fuller picture. It’s a dual tally system, and while it’s not perfect (people move, some avoid being counted, and there’s always debate about accuracy), it’s the best tool LA has for tracking progress and shaping policy.

Why does this count matter so much? Well, these numbers aren’t just for headlines. They’re used to decide where resources go, which neighborhoods get more shelter beds, and what kind of services are needed most. Policy debates, funding, and even the design of new programs all hinge on what the count reveals. As research shows, the annual count by LAHSA is crucial for informing intervention strategies and tracking the impact of local and state policies.

It’s not all smooth sailing, though. The method is old-school, and critics point out its flaws—people can be missed, and some areas are harder to survey than others. Still, the recent drop in numbers is a big deal. It suggests that efforts like Inside Safe and increased shelter options are starting to make a dent, even if there’s a long way to go. Mayor Bass put it plainly at a press conference:

“Are there still unhoused Angelenos? Yes… But all of these are steps forward.”

Looking at the bigger picture, LA’s progress stands out against national trends. While homelessness jumped 18% across the U.S. between 2023 and 2024, LA County’s numbers moved in the opposite direction. That’s not just a statistical blip—it’s a sign that, despite all the challenges, something is shifting in how Los Angeles tackles homelessness. The Homelessness Statistics 2025 show that with the right mix of urgency, policy, and community effort, even a city as sprawling and complex as LA can start to turn the tide.

Inside Safe and the Price Tag of Progress

Let’s talk about the Inside Safe Program—the big, bold move from Mayor Karen Bass that’s been shaking up how Los Angeles tackles homelessness. If you’ve been following Los Angeles homelessness trends, you know the numbers have finally started to move in the right direction. For the second year in a row, the city and county are seeing real drops in people living on the street. And a lot of that comes down to Bass’s signature initiative: clearing encampments and moving folks into motels and hotels. Sounds simple, right? Well, not exactly.

The Inside Safe Program is part moral crusade, part logistical headache. On one hand, you’ve got the human side—helping people get off the streets, even if it’s just for a night or two. On the other, there’s the reality: this approach is expensive, and the debates over the bill aren’t going away anytime soon. But here’s the thing: the results are hard to ignore.

• Shelter use in the city jumped 4.7% in 2025.
• Street homelessness dropped by nearly 8% (7.9% to be exact).
• Since Bass took office, there’s been a 17.5% decline in street homelessness—pretty remarkable for a city that’s struggled for decades.

Research shows that programs like Inside Safe have been instrumental in getting people off the sidewalks and into safer, more stable situations. The effectiveness of Inside Safe is showing up in the numbers, and it’s not just a blip—this is the second year in a row LA’s seen a drop.

But let’s not sugarcoat it. The cost of putting people up in motels adds up fast. Mayor Bass isn’t pretending otherwise. She’s been blunt about the challenges, saying:

“Is reducing homelessness by having people in motels still very expensive, and do we need to look for more cost-effective ways? Yes. But all of these are steps forward.”
– Mayor Karen Bass

So, while the Inside Safe Program is working—at least in the short term—it’s not a forever fix. Bass and her team know that. The city needs more cost-effective solutions that don’t just shuffle people from one temporary spot to another. That’s the next big challenge.

Still, you can’t ignore the progress. Clearing encampments and filling motels isn’t the dream scenario, but it’s a step up from leaving people on the streets. And for now, that’s making a real difference in the lives of thousands of Angelenos.

The debates over the price tag are real, and they’re not going away. But as long as the numbers keep moving in the right direction, it’s clear that Mayor Karen Bass’s initiatives—for all their messiness—are having an impact. The question is, how do you keep this momentum going without breaking the bank?

The Policies & Puzzles of LA’s Housing Response

Let’s be real: tackling homelessness in Los Angeles is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. You’ve got historic funding, new taxes, and a whole lot of political drama. But here’s the twist—after years of rising numbers, LA’s homelessness is actually dropping for the second year in a row. So, what’s working, and what’s just adding to the puzzle?

First, let’s talk about California Homelessness Policies. The state has thrown more than $37 billion at the problem since 2019. That’s a mind-boggling amount, but here’s the kicker: during that same period, the homeless population in California jumped by 24%. As one report put it,

“The cost has coincided with a 24% surge in the homeless population between January 2019 and January 2024, now topping 187,000 people.”

So, where’s all that money going? In LA, a big chunk has gone into Affordable Housing Solutions like Proposition HHH. Voters approved this $1.2 billion measure back in 2016, and it’s delivered 8,376 supportive housing units so far. That’s a serious Proposition HHH Impact—and it’s one of the reasons permanent housing placements in LA are at an all-time high. Research shows that these kinds of investments are finally starting to move the needle, with the city’s homeless population dropping 3.4% and street homelessness down nearly 8% in the latest count.

But not every big idea has panned out. Enter Measure ULA, the so-called “mansion tax.” This was supposed to be a game-changer for California Homelessness Trends, promising $1.1 billion a year for affordable housing and homelessness prevention. In reality? It’s brought in just $288 million a year and cooled the real estate market way more than anyone expected. According to researchers at UCLA, property sales over $5 million dropped by half. That’s a classic case of Measure ULA Effects not matching the hype.

Meanwhile, the state isn’t slowing down. In March 2024, voters approved a $6.4 billion bond for new housing and expanded mental health and addiction treatment. Governor Newsom even reorganized state agencies to streamline housing efforts, and he’s pushed for controversial new courts to mandate treatment for people with severe mental illness. It’s a lot—some would say too much at once, others argue it’s not enough.

On the ground, programs like Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe are making a dent. By moving people from encampments into motels and shelters, Inside Safe helped boost the number of people in shelters by nearly 5%. Mayor Bass herself admits it’s expensive and not a long-term fix, but as she put it,

“Are there still unhoused Angelenos? Yes… But all of these are steps forward.”

So, is LA’s experiment with ballot measures, massive spending, and bold new programs the answer? Or is it just another twist in the saga? The numbers are finally heading in the right direction, but the puzzle is far from solved.

Wildcards & What-Ifs: What Could Change the Game Next?

So, LA’s homelessness numbers are finally dropping—two years in a row, which is a big deal in the middle of the ongoing US Homelessness Crisis. But if you’re looking at the bigger picture, you know there are still a ton of wildcards in play. What could actually change the game next? Let’s imagine for a second: what if every empty luxury condo in the city was opened up, even temporarily, to families in need? Would LA’s streets look totally different a year from now? Maybe that’s a little pie-in-the-sky, but it’s the kind of “what if” that gets people talking about Affordable Housing Solutions in a real way.

Of course, it’s not just about housing. Employment is a huge piece of the puzzle. Programs like LA:RISE are quietly making a difference, connecting people to jobs and helping them hold onto stable housing. It’s not flashy, but research shows that when folks have steady work, chronic homelessness goes down. It’s a simple equation: employment + stable housing = fewer people on the streets. And in a city that’s seen decades of struggle, that kind of steady progress is worth celebrating.

But here’s where things get complicated. While LA is seeing some improvement, the national numbers are going the other way. Homelessness across the U.S. jumped 18% in just one year, and families with kids saw the biggest spike. Meanwhile, LA’s increase was just 3%, and New York’s numbers are up even more. So, what’s going on? Is it time for cities to swap best practices, or are we just dealing with totally different realities? Maybe it’s both. There’s no one-size-fits-all fix, but there’s definitely room for cities to learn from each other—or at least compare notes before the next crisis hits.

And then there’s the wildest card of all: Mental Health Treatment. California’s new court system could soon mandate treatment for people with severe mental illness, which is a huge shift. Some folks say it’s necessary, others worry about civil rights. Either way, it’s going to spark a lot of debate. If it works, it could be a game-changer. If not, well, we’ll be having this same conversation next year.

Still, there are real signs of progress. As one official put it,

“Permanent housing placements are at an all-time high, indicating progress in housing efforts.”

That’s not just a talking point—it’s a sign that things are moving in the right direction, even if it’s slower (and more expensive) than anyone would like.

With LA’s numbers trending down and new policies on the table, the city is at the edge of a dozen what-ifs. Maybe next year, the wildcards will play out in our favor. Or maybe we’ll just have a few more lessons to share with the rest of the country. Either way, the conversation about Employment Initiatives LA, housing, and mental health is far from over—and that’s a good thing.

TL;DR: Two years of declining homeless numbers in LA are proof that focused, if imperfect, local action can move the needle—though the challenge is far from solved.

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