Homeless man on a park bench. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.
On June 28, 2024, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued its first release of 2024 results from the annual homeless count taken in January. The count revealed a decrease of 0.3% in homelessness for Los Angeles County from 2023 to 2024. The city of Los Angeles saw a larger decrease of 2.2%.
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 75,312 people experienced homeless in Los Angeles County in 2024. Of these, 22,947 were provided with shelter. Unsheltered homelessness decreased 5.1% from 2023 to 2024. The number of tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters visually tallied decreased by 9.2% from 2023 to 2024 (from 23,438 to 21,288).
The number of homeless veterans decreased 22.9% from 3,878 in 2023 to 2,991 in 2024. The number of homeless transitional age youth (age 18-24) also decreased from 2,871 in 2023 to 2,406 in 2024 - a 16.2% drop. Homeless families, however, increased by 2.2%, from 10,477 families in 2023 to 10,710 in 2024.
A continuing concern, still reflected in the 2024 count, is the percentage of homeless persons who are Black/African American. This racial group makes up 31% of homeless in Los Angeles County, in contrast to only 8% of the population of Los Angeles County overall.
The number of homeless persons suffering mental illness in 2024 was 15,666, or 21% of the county's homeless population. Most were unsheltered. This was a slight decrease from 15,994 counted in 2023. The number of homeless persons suffering substance use disorder in 2024 was 17,248, or 23% of the county's homeless population. Most were also unsheltered. This was a decrease from 19,361 counted in 2023.
Although homeless people are found throughout the county, the largest concentrations in 2024 continued to be in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (26%), South Los Angeles region (20%) and San Fernando Valley region (15%). Most homeless people are from the Los Angeles area and stay in or near the communities from which they came. Homeless numbers declined between 2023 and 2024 in all L.A. County regions, except for the San Fernando Valley (+2%) and, more dramatically, the Antelope Valley (+42%).
Also see: Population in Poverty in Los Angeles County.
Since 2005, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an agency of the City of Los Angeles, has conducted numerical and demographic counts of homelessness, not only within the city of Los Angeles, but throughout Los Angeles County. Over the course of three days in January, this count is conducted with the help of thousands of volunteers branching out throughout Los Angeles County.
Also see: Homeless Counts in Los Angeles County by City
and independent homeless counts by Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2024 | 75,312 | 52,365 | 22,947 | 45,252 | 29,275 | 15,977 | ||
| 2023 | 75,518 | 55,155 | 20,363 | 46,260 | 32,680 | 13,580 | ||
| 2022 | 69,144 | 48,548 | 20,596 | 41,980 | 28,458 | 13,522 | ||
| 2021 | No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||
| 2020 | 66,436 | 48,041 | 18,395 | 41,290 | 28,852 | 12,438 | ||
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2019 | 56,257 | 42,471 | 13,786 | 35,550 | 26,606 | 8,944 | ||
| 2018 | 52,765 | 39,396 | 13,369 | 31,285 | 22,887 | 8,398 | ||
| 2017 | 55,048 | 40,082 | 14,966 | 33,138 | 24,186 | 8,952 | ||
| 2016 | 46,874 | 34,701 | 12,173 | 28,464 | 21,338 | 7,126 | ||
| 2015 | 44,359 | 31,018 | 13,341 | 25,686 | 17,687 | 7,999 | ||
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2013 | 53,798 | 40,864 | 12,934 | 29,682 | 21,657 | 8,025 | ||
| 2011 | 45,422 | 28,540 | 16,882 | 23,539 | 12,977 | 10,562 | ||
| 2009 | 47,572 | 28,644 | 18,928 | 25,771 | 15,770 | 10,001 | ||
| 2007 | 68,608 | 57,166 | 11,442 | 40,144 | 32,350 | 7,794 | ||
| 2005 | 82,291 | 72,413 | 9,878 | 48,103 | 41,329 | 6,774 | ||
Numbers include those for Glendale (SPA 2), Long Beach (SPA 8) and Pasadena (SPA 3)
| Year | Antelope Valley (SPA 1) |
San Fernando Valley (SPA 2) |
San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3) |
Metro LA (SPA 4) |
West LA (SPA 5) |
South LA (SPA 6) |
East LA County (SPA 7) |
South Bay/ Harbor (SPA 8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,672 | 10,701 | 4,843 | 18,389 | 5,383 | 13,886 | 5,899 | 5,428 |
| 2023 | 4,686 | 10,443 | 5,009 | 18,531 | 6,669 | 12,995 | 6,511 | 7,775 |
| 2022 | 4,598 | 9,604 | 4,661 | 17,820 | 4,604 | 14,598 | 4,781 | 4,445 |
| 2021 | No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||
| 2020 | 4,755 | 9,277 | 5,082 | 17,121 | 6,009 | 13,012 | 4,586 | 6,594 |
| Year | Antelope Valley (SPA 1) |
San Fernando Valley (SPA 2) |
San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3) |
Metro LA (SPA 4) |
West LA (SPA 5) |
South LA (SPA 6) |
East LA County (SPA 7) |
South Bay/ Harbor (SPA 8) |
| 2019 | 3,293 | 7,730 | 4,489 | 16,436 | 5,262 | 9,543 | 5,095 | 4,409 |
| 2018 | 3,203 | 7,738 | 4,282 | 14,218 | 4,401 | 8,343 | 4,569 | 6,011 |
| 2017 | 4,559 | 7,459 | 3,552 | 15,393 | 5,511 | 9,243 | 5,189 | 4,282 |
| 2015 | 2,818 | 5,216 | 3,093 | 11,681 | 4,276 | 7,513 | 3,571 | 3,006 |
| 2013 | 2,113 | 4,836 | 2,794 | 10,472 | 3,667 | 7,045 | 2,429 | 2,168 |
| Year | Antelope Valley (SPA 1) |
San Fernando Valley (SPA 2) |
San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3) |
Metro LA (SPA 4) |
West LA (SPA 5) |
South LA (SPA 6) |
East LA County (SPA 7) |
South Bay/ Harbor (SPA 8) |
| 2011 | 1,412 | 3,720 | 2,499 | 10,086 | 3,512 | 7,541 | 3,208 | 2,644 |
| 2009 | 1,609 | 3,312 | 2,780 | 10,339 | 3,738 | 5,504 | 2,993 | 2,401 |
| 2007 | 1,238 | 4,464 | 6,648 | 16,109 | 4,580 | 7,786 | 3,806 | 3,806 |
| 2005 | 2,404 | 8,051 | 7,145 | 14,041 | 4,773 | 11,919 | 4,982 | 5,918 |
Map of Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas
The category Hispanic/Latino is actually an ethnic rather than racial category. Persons identified as Hispanic/Latino may be from any one or combination of racial groups.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Race/ Ethnic Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 1,056 1.5%) |
723 (1.0%) |
610 (0.9%) |
686 (1.1%) |
975 (1.7%) |
1,474 (3.3%) |
475 (1.0%) |
474 (1.1%) |
430 (1.0%) |
530 (1.5%) |
|
| Asian (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 927 (0.01) |
1,212 (0.02) |
598 (0.01) |
774 (0.01) |
455 (0.01) |
1,053 (2.3%) |
896 (1.9%) |
434 (0.01) |
502 (0.01) |
299 (0.01) |
|
| Black/ African American (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 21,160 29.7%) |
22,606 (31.7%) |
19,523 (28.2%) |
21,509 (33.8%) |
18,719 (33.3%) |
15,885 (35.1%) |
15,485 (33.5%) |
13,814 (32.9%) |
15,622 (37.8%) |
13,629 (37.7%) |
|
| Hispanic/ Latino | 30,881 43.4%) |
30,350 (42.6%) |
28,940 (41.9%) |
23,005 (36.1%) |
20,523 (36.5%) |
19,186 (42.4%) |
18,871 (40.8%) |
17,470 (41.6%) |
13,424 (32.5%) |
12,403 (34.3%) |
|
| Race/ Ethnic Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Middle Eastern or North African | 122 (0.3%) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 95 0.1%) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Multi-Racial/ Other (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 1,889 2.7%) |
2,214 (3.1%) |
1,637 (2.4%) |
1,319 (2.1%) |
1,400 (2.5%) |
N/A | 1,368 (3.0%) |
1,365 (3.3%) |
943 (2.3%) |
981 (2.7%) |
|
| Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 288 (0.4%) |
389 (0.5%) |
142 (0.2%) |
205 (0.3%) |
314 (0.6%) |
379 (0.8%) |
323 (0.7%) |
96 (0.2%) |
76 (0.2%) |
100 (0.3%) |
|
| White (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 14,905 20.9%) |
13,826 (19.4%) |
13,661 (19.8%) |
16,208 (25.4%) |
13,871 (24.7%) |
13,926 (30.8%) |
8,842 (19.1%) |
8,327 (19.8%) |
10,293 (24.9%) |
8,223 (22.7%) |
|
* Prior to 2024, the L.A. Homeless Count limited each racial category (except Hispanic/Latino and Multi-Racial) only to those of one race alone. No racial/ethnic category counted those of Hispanic/Latino heritage, except for one. Those of Hispanic/Latino heritage were counted together under that category, regardless of racial background. The 2024 Homeless Count changed all this. It counted together everyone within each racial category, regardless of Hispanic/Latino heritage. At the same time, the 2024 Homeless Count did not provide a number for Multi-racial persons for the City of Los Angeles. Consequently, the Almanac found no way to parse out 2024 homeless racial numbers for a fair comparison to numbers from previous years.
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
Female, Male, Non-Binary and Questioning categories include persons who also identify as Transgender.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Gender | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Female | 23,804 (32.8%) | 22,320 (30.8%) | 21,145 (32.5%) | 21,129 (32.2%) | 18,331 (31.7%) | 14,490 (31.3%) | 14,510 (30.8%) | 13,817 (32.9%) | 13,330 (32.3%) | 10,617 (30.6%) | |
| Male | 47,113 (64.9%) | 48,260 (66.6%) | 43,212 (66.4%) | 44,259 (67.5%) | 39,348 (68.0%) | 30,554 (66.0%) | 31,293 (66.3%) | 27,629 (65.8%) | 27,790 (67.3%) | 23,980 (69.0%) | |
| Non-Binary | 215 (0.3%) | 630 (0.9%) | 624 (1.0%) | 197 (0.3%) | 200 (0.3%) | 146 (0.3%) | 369 (0.8%) | 429 (1.0%) | 170 (0.4%) | 148 (0.4%) | |
| Transgender | 1,318 (1.8%) | 1,112 (1.5%) | 917 (1.4%) | 851 (1.3%) | 1,057 (1.8%) | 1,022 (2.2%) | 914 (1.9%) | 703 (1.7%) | 666 (1.6%) | 805 (2.3%) | |
| Questioning & Other | 134 (0.2%) | 110 (0.2%) | 130 (0.2%) | N/A | N/A | 85 (0.2%) | 88 (0.2%) | 105 (0.3%) | N/A | N/A | |
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
Age Group Numbers From 2022, 2023, 2024 Counts
(The age groupings after age 54 differed from the 2022 count forward)
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Under 18 | 6,414 (8.5%) |
6,230 (8.7%) |
6,346 (9.7%) |
4,020 (8.9%) |
3,925 (8.5%) |
4,259 (10.1%) |
|
| Under 18 | 3,167 (4.2%) |
3,718 (5.2%) |
2,786 (4.3%) |
2,038 (4.5%) |
1,834 (4.0%) |
1,681 (4.0%) |
|
| 25 - 54 | 46,971 (62.4%) |
43,804 (61.4%) |
40,854 (62.7%) |
27,826 (61.5%) |
28,470 (61.5%) |
26,381 (62.8%) |
|
| 55 - 64 | 13,652 (18.1%) |
12,843 (18.0%) |
10,881 (16.7%) |
7,387 (16.3%) |
8,604 (18.6%) |
7,064 (16.8%) |
|
| 65 and Over | 5,108 (6.8%) |
4,725 (6.6%) |
4,244 (6.5%) |
3,981 (8.8%) |
3,427 (7.4%) |
2,595 (6.2%) |
|
Age Group Numbers From 2019 and 2020 Counts (no count in 2021 due to COVID-19)
(The age groupings after age 54 differed prior to the 2022 count)
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Age Group/ Percent | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Under 18 | 7,491 (11.8%) |
5,061 (9.0%) |
4,923 (11.9%) |
3,216 (9.0%) |
|
| 18 - 24 | 4,181 (6.6%) |
3,527 (6.3%) |
2,910 (7.0%) |
2,269 (6.4%) |
|
| 25 - 54 | 37,138 (58.3%) |
34,063 (60.5%) |
23,479 (56.9%) |
21,383 (60.1%) |
|
| 55 - 61 | 8,606 (13.5%) |
8,375 (14.9%) |
5,898 (14.3%) |
5,593 (15.7%) |
|
| 62 and Over | 6,290 (9.9%) |
5,231 (9.3%) |
4,080 (9.9%) |
3,089 (8.7%) |
|
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Characteristic/ Percentage | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Veterans | 3,410 (4.5%) |
3,878 (5.1%) |
3,942 (5.7%) |
3,681 (5.8%) |
3,879 (6.9%) |
1,834 (4.1%) |
2,696 (5.8%) |
1,895 (4.5%) |
2,120 (5.1%) |
2,197 (6.1%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Individuals | 30,194 (40.1%) |
31,991 (42.4%) |
27,154 (39.3%) |
23,075 (36.2%) |
15,855 (28.2%) |
18,936 (41.8%) |
21,517 (46.5%) |
17,272 (41.1%) |
14,896 (36.1%) |
10,084 (27.9%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Family Members | 1,657 (2.2%) |
1,549 (2.1%) |
1,422 (2.1%) |
1,407 (2.2%) |
674 (1.2%) |
1,039 (2.3%) |
969 (2.1%) |
910 (2.2%) |
867 (2.1%) |
632 (1.7%) |
|
| Substance Use Disorder† | 17,248 (22.9%) |
19,364 (25.6%) |
16,431 (26.2%) |
15,203 (27.0%) |
7,829 (13.9%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
12,567 (27.2%) |
10,636 (28.2%) |
10,357 (25.1%) |
4,888 (2%) |
|
| Characteristic/ Percentage | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Persons with HIV/AIDS† | 1,263 (1.7%) |
1,480 (2.0%) |
1,478 (2.4%) |
1,165 (2.1%) |
1,309 (2.3%) |
1,834 (4.1%) |
940 (2.0%) |
900 (2.4%) |
904 (2.2%) |
1,221 (3.4%) |
|
| Serious Mental Illness† | 15,666 (20.8%) |
15,994 (21.2%) |
15,449 (24.7%) |
14,125 (25.1%) |
13,675 (24.3%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
11,396 (24.6%) |
9,367 (24.8%) |
9,123 (22.1%) |
12,869 (35.6%) |
|
| Physical Disability† | 14,162 (18.8%) |
12,296 (16.3%) |
12,111 (19.3%) |
10,833 (19.3%) |
9,232 (16.4%) |
8,442 (18.7%) |
8,775 (19.0%) |
8,343 (22.1%) |
6,955 (16.8%) |
6,095 (16.9%) |
|
| Developmental Disability† | 4,820 (6.4%) |
6,379 (8.4%) |
5,917 (9.4%) |
5,292 (9.4%) |
4,370 (7.8%) |
3,199 (7.1%) |
4,288 (9.3%) |
4,425 (11.7%) |
4,064 (9.8%) |
3,089 (8.5%) |
|
| Characteristic/ Percentage | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Domestic Violence Experience† | 27,899 (37.0%) |
24,639 (32.6%) |
23,091 (36.9%) |
18,345 (32.6%) |
20,265 (36.0%) |
17,110 (37.8%) |
16,686 (36.1%) |
15,662 (41.5%) |
11,622 (28.1%) |
12,860 (35.6%) |
|
| Homeless Due to Fleeing Domestic Violence† | 6,800 (9.0%) |
5,722 (7.6%) |
4,750 (7.6%) |
3,884 (6.9%) |
3,940 (7.0%) |
4,274 (9.4%) |
3,909 (8.5%) |
2,534 (6.7%) |
2,741 (6.6%) |
1,870 (5.2%) |
|
Physical Disability, Developmental Disability, and Domestic Violence Experience. Numbers in these categories do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.
* Cumulative numbers for all Service Planning Areas.
† Numbers are homeless population age 18 and over and percentages are prevalence in this population only.
The 2022 homeless count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found, county-wide, 121 unaccompanied homeless minors (under age 18) (69 in 2020; 66 in 2019; 63 in 2018). Most were sheltered, however, with only five found to be unsheltered.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total | 2,406 | 2,871 | 2,786 | 3,029 | 2,818 | 2,038 | 1,834 | 1,037 | 2,083 | 1,833 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered | 1,304 | 1,593 | 1,747 | 1,005 | 931 | 1,312 | 1,118 | 574 | 613 | 569 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered | 1,072 | 2,125 | 1,039 | 2,075 | 1,887 | 726 | 716 | 463 | 1,470 | 1,237 | |
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Total | 106 | 93 | 121 | 69 | 66 | 92 | 71 | 90 | 17 | 54 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Sheltered | 37 | 74 | 116 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 58 | 88 | 13 | 21 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Unsheltered | 69 | 19 | 5 | 44 | 45 | 66 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 33 | |
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Year | Cars | Vans | RVs | Tents | Makeshift | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | |
| 2024 | 3,709 | N/A | 2,986 | N/A | 6,854 | N/A | 4,232 | N/A | 3,507 | N/A |
| 2023 | 3,919 | N/A | 3,364 | N/A | 6,814 | N/A | 4,293 | N/A | 5,049 | N/A |
| 2022 | 3,367 | 4,636 | 2,330 | 3,202 | 7,178 | 11,564 | 4,304 | 5,699 | 4,786 | 7,226 |
| 2020 | 2,937 | 4,395 | 2,984 | 5,229 | 5,203 | 9,280 | 4,020 | 6,062 | 3,617 | 6,016 |
| 2019 | 2,748 | 4,001 | 2,360 | 3,697 | 4,873 | 8,829 | 3,276 | 4,223 | 4,139 | 6,862 |
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
Source: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Also see: Shelter Partnership, Inc. Established in 1985, the organization works throughout Los Angeles County to help bring expertise to develop housing and resources for homeless people.
TAX & BOND REVENUES TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS:
City of Los Angeles Supportive Housing Proposition (Proposition HHH, $1.2-billion bond, passed November 2016)
County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative (Measure H, 1/4-cent sales tax increase, passed March 2017).
Is it less costly to help the homeless get off the street than to leave them there? Weingart Center, in a 2015 interview with Fast Company, proposed that an "investment" of $10,000 can help a homeless person obtain housing, food, job training and ultimately a job, along with support services to acheive that end. On the other hand, leaving a homeless person on the street costs Los Angeles an average of $35,000 each year in medical and emergency services, mental health care, social services and law enforcement. Jailing a homeless person pushes that cost up by a third.
Countering Myths of Homelessness
We can only hope to end homelessness if we learn the truth about homelessness.
