Homeless man on a park bench. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.
On July 24, 2026, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority released its first report of the 2026 Homeless Count results from the annual homeless count taken in January. Unfortunately, after two years of numerical decreases, the count showed a 1.2% increase in the number of homeless people for Los Angeles County from 2025 to 2026. The city of Los Angeles also saw an increase of 3.4%, opposite of its 2024-2025 decrease of 3.4%.
A ongoing concern, continuing to be reflected in the 2026 count, is the percentage of homeless persons who are Black/African American. This racial group currently makes up 32% of the homeless population in Los Angeles County, in contrast to only 8% of the population of Los Angeles County overall.
The number of homeless persons suffering substance use disorder in 2026 was 16,842, or about 25% of the county's homeless population. This was a 13% increase from 2025. Most were unsheltered.
Although homeless people are found throughout the county, the largest concentrations in 2026 continued to be in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (27%), South Los Angeles region (20%) and San Fernando Valley region (14%). Most homeless people were from the Los Angeles area and stayed in or near the communities from which they came. Homeless numbers had declined in all L.A. County regions from 2025 to 2026, except for East L.A. (+15.6%), South L.A. (+5.2%), Central Metro area (+1.2%), and San Gabriel Valley (1.1%).
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 most other communities within Los Angeles County. Over the course of a few days in January or February, this count is conducted with the help of thousands of volunteers branching out across the county.
Also see: Homeless Counts in Los Angeles County by City
and independent homeless counts by Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena.
Numbers reported here include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | ||
| 2026 | 73,040 | 49,002 | 24,038 | 45,194 | 29,115 | 16,079 | |
| 2025 | 72,195 | 47,450 | 24,745 | 43,695 | 26,972 | 16,723 | |
| 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 | |
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | ||
| 2022 | 69,144 | 48,548 | 20,596 | 41,980 | 28,458 | 13,522 | |
| 2021 | No count was conducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||||
| 2020 | 66,436 | 48,041 | 18,395 | 41,290 | 28,852 | 12,438 | |
| 2019 | 56,257 | 42,471 | 13,786 | 35,550 | 26,606 | 8,944 | |
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | ||
| 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 reported here 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4,755 | 10,299 | 4,988 | 19,431 | 4,518 | 14,289 | 5,522 | 4,774 |
| 2025 | 6,753 | 10,766 | 4,485 | 16,955 | 5,029 | 13,587 | 4,778 | 5,424 |
| 2024 | 6,672 | 10,876 | 5,399 | 18,389 | 5,383 | 13,886 | 5,899 | 8,804 |
| 2023 | 4,686 | 10,638 | 5,565 | 18,531 | 6,669 | 12,995 | 6,511 | 9,923 |
| 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) |
| 2022 | 4,598 | 9,829 | 5,173 | 17,820 | 4,604 | 14,598 | 4,781 | 7,741 |
| 2021 | No count was conducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||
| 2020 | 4,755 | 9,274 | 5,082 | 17,121 | 6,009 | 13,012 | 4,586 | 6,594 |
| 2019 | 3,293 | 7,973 | 5,031 | 16,436 | 5,262 | 9,543 | 5,095 | 6,303 |
| 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) |
| 2018 | 3,203 | 7,738 | 4,282 | 14,218 | 4,401 | 8,343 | 4,569 | 6,011 |
| 2017 | 3,825 | 7,341 | 4,094 | 14,844 | 5,411 | 9,036 | 4,533 | 5,964 |
| 2016 | 3,038 | 7,334 | 3,142 | 11,860 | 4,659 | 7,459 | 3,469 | 5,913 |
| 2015 | 2,818 | 5,424 | 3,725 | 11,681 | 4,276 | 7,513 | 3,571 | 5,351 |
| 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) |
| 2013 | 2,113 | 4,836 | 2,794 | 10,472 | 3,667 | 7,045 | 2,429 | 2,168 |
| 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
Numbers reported here are for the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC), which includes all Los Angeles County communities except for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena. These estimated total number of homeless persons within the CoC was 68,576.
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.
| Race/ Ethnic Group | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native | 2,592 (3.8%) |
2,477 (3.7%) |
1,056 (1.5%) |
723 (1.0%) |
610 (0.9%) |
1,665 (3.7%) |
1,413 (3.2%) |
1,474 (3.3%) |
475 (1.0%) |
474 (1.1%) |
|
| Asian | 1,591 (2.3%) |
1,751 (2.6%) |
927 (0.01%) |
1,212 (0.02%) |
598 (0.01%) |
1,064 (2.4%) |
1,290 (3.0%) |
1,053 (2.3%) |
896 (1.9%) |
434 (0.01%) |
|
| Black/ African American (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 21,822 (31.8%) |
21,752 (32.1%) |
21,160 (29.7%) |
22,606 (31.7%) |
19,523 (28.2%) |
15,154 (33.5%) |
14,221 (32.5%) |
15,885 (35.1%) |
15,485 (33.5%) |
13,814 (32.9%) |
|
| Hispanic/ Latino | 32,592 (47.5%) |
31,274 (46.1%) |
30,881 (43.4%) |
30,350 (42.6%) |
28,940 (41.9%) |
20,819 (46.1%) |
20,070 (45.9%) |
19,186 (42.4%) |
18,871 (40.8%) |
17,470 (41.6%) |
|
| Race/ Ethnic Group | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2026 | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Middle Eastern or North African | 317 (0.5%) |
403 (0.6%) |
122 (0.3%) |
N/A | N/A | 263 (0.6%) |
358 (0.8%) |
95 (0.1%) |
N/A | N/A | |
| Multi-Racial/ Other | N/A | N/A | 1,889 (2.7%) |
2,214 (3.1%) |
1,637 (2.4%) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,368 (3.0%) |
1,365 (3.3%) |
|
| Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander | 447 (0.7%) |
560 (0.8%) |
288 (0.4%) |
389 (0.5%) |
142 (0.2%) |
504 (1.1%) |
369 (0.8%) |
379 (0.8%) |
323 (0.7%) |
96 (0.2%) |
|
| White | 15,864 (23.1%) |
19,502 (28.8%) |
14,905 (20.9%) |
13,826 (19.4%) |
13,661 (19.8%) |
12,261 (27.1%) |
12,293 (28.1%) |
13,926 (30.8%) |
8,842 (19.1%) |
8,327 (19.8%) |
|
* 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. Since the 2024 Homeless Count, this changed. Since 2024, everyone within each racial category was counted regardless of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
Numbers reported here are for the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC), which includes all Los Angeles County communities except for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena. These estimated total number of homeless persons within the CoC was 68,576.
Female, Male, Non-Binary and Questioning categories include persons who also identify as Transgender.
| Gender | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Female | 22,232 (32.4%) |
22,411 (33.1%) |
23,804 (32.8%) |
22,320 (30.8%) |
21,145 (32.5%) |
15,141 (33.5%) |
14,552 (33.3%) |
14,490 (31.3%) |
14,510 (30.8%) |
13,817 (32.9%) |
|
| Male | 45,406 (66.2%) |
44,622 (65.8%) |
47,113 (64.9%) |
48,260 (66.6%) |
43,212 (66.4%) |
29,603 (65.5%) |
28,774 (65.8%) |
30,554 (66.0%) |
31,293 (66.3%) |
27,629 (65.8%) |
|
| Non-Binary | 347 (0.5%) |
382 (0.6%) |
215 (0.3%) |
630 (0.9%) |
624 (1.0%) |
287 (0.6%) |
214 (0.5%) |
146 (0.3%) |
369 (0.8%) |
429 (1.0%) |
|
| Transgender | 427 (0.6%) |
350 (0.5%) |
1,318 (1.8%) |
1,112 (1.5%) |
917 (1.4%) |
348 (0.8%) |
276 (0.6%) |
1,022 (2.2%) |
914 (1.9%) |
703 (1.7%) |
|
| Questioning & Other | 310 (0.5%) |
293 (0.4%) |
134 (0.2%) |
110 (0.2%) |
130 (0.2%) |
238 (0.5%) |
113 (0.3%) |
85 (0.2%) |
88 (0.2%) |
105 (0.3%) |
|
N/A data either were not collected, estimated or made available.
Numbers reported here include all of Los Angeles County, including Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Under 18 | 5,836 (8.0%) |
6,611 (9.2%) |
6,414 (8.5%) |
6,230 (8.7%) |
6,346 (9.7%) |
3,504 (7.8%) |
4,061 (9.3%) |
4,020 (8.9%) |
3,925 (8.5%) |
4,259 (10.1%) |
|
| 18 - 24 | 3,840 (5.3%) |
3,212 (4.4%) |
3,167 (4.2%) |
3,718 (5.2%) |
2,786 (4.3%) |
2,441 (5.4%) |
2,111 (4.8%) |
2,038 (4.5%) |
1,834 (4.0%) |
1,681 (4.0%) |
|
| 25 - 54 | 44,260 (60.6%) |
44,160 (61.2%) |
46,971 (62.4%) |
43,804 (61.4%) |
40,854 (62.7%) |
28,207 (62.4%) |
26,239 (60.1%) |
27,826 (61.5%) |
28,470 (61.5%) |
26,381 (62.8%) |
|
| 55 - 64 | 12,883 (17.6%) |
11,328 (15.7%) |
13,652 (18.1%) |
12,843 (18.0%) |
10,881 (16.7%) |
7,454 (16.5%) |
6,605 (15.1%) |
7,387 (16.3%) |
8,604 (18.6%) |
7,064 (16.8%) |
|
| 65 and Over | 6,221 (8.5%) |
6,884 (9.5%) |
5,108 (6.8%) |
4,725 (6.6%) |
4,244 (6.5%) |
3,588 (7.9%) |
4,679 (10.7%) |
3,981 (8.8%) |
3,427 (7.4%) |
2,595 (6.2%) |
|
Numbers reported here are for the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC), which includes all Los Angeles County communities except for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena. These estimated total number of homeless persons within the CoC was 68,576.
| Issue | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Veterans | 2,257 (3.3%) |
3,050 (4.2%) |
3,410 (4.5%) |
3,878 (5.1%) |
3,942 (5.7%) |
N/A | N/A | 1,834 (4.1%) |
2,696 (5.8%) |
1,895 (4.5%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Individuals | 32,563 (47.5%) |
29,568 (41.0%) |
30,194 (40.1%) |
31,991 (42.4%) |
27,154 (39.3%) |
18,736 (41.5%) |
17,099 (39.1%) |
18,936 (41.8%) |
21,517 (46.5%) |
17,272 (41.1%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Family Members | 1,783 (2.6%) |
1,755 (2.6%) |
1,657 (2.2%) |
1,549 (2.1%) |
1,422 (2.1%) |
1,109 (2.5%) |
1,096 (2.5%) |
1,039 (2.3%) |
969 (2.1%) |
910 (2.2%) |
|
| Substance Use Disorder† | 16,842 (24.6%) |
14,893 (22.0%) |
17,248 (22.9%) |
19,364 (25.6%) |
16,431 (26.2%) |
10,962 (24.3%) |
9,036 (20.7%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
12,567 (27.2%) |
10,636 (28.2%) |
|
| Issue | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Persons with HIV/AIDS† | 1,316 (1.9%) |
1,230 (1.8%) |
1,263 (1.7%) |
1,480 (2.0%) |
1,478 (2.4%) |
1,054 (2.3%) |
892 (2.0%) |
1,834 (4.1%) |
940 (2.0%) |
900 (2.4%) |
|
| Serious Mental Illness† | 17,045 (24.9%) |
15,930 (23.5%) |
15,666 (20.8%) |
15,994 (21.2%) |
15,449 (24.7%) |
11,300 (25.0%) |
9,895 (22.6%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
11,396 (24.6%) |
9,367 (24.8%) |
|
| Physical Disability† | 14,611 (21.3%) |
14,479 (21.4%) |
14,162 (18.8%) |
12,296 (16.3%) |
12,111 (19.3%) |
9,115 (20.2%) |
8,674 (19.9%) |
8,442 (18.7%) |
8,775 (19.0%) |
8,343 (22.1%) |
|
| Issue | Los Angeles Continuum of Care | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Development Disability† | 6,626 (9.7%) |
5,606 (8.3%) |
4,820 (6.4%) |
6,379 (8.4%) |
5,917 (9.4%) |
4,613 (10.2%) |
3,249 (7.4%) |
3,199 (7.1%) |
4,288 (9.3%) |
4,425 (11.7%) |
|
| Domestic Violence Experience† | 29,434 (42.9%) |
25,632 (37.8%) |
27,899 (37.0%) |
24,639 (32.6%) |
23,091 (36.9%) |
19,726 (43.6%) |
16,433 (37.6%) |
17,110 (37.8%) |
16,686 (36.1%) |
15,662 (41.5%) |
|
| Homeless Due to Fleeing Domestic Violence† | 8,452 (12.3%) |
6,006 (8.9%) |
6,800 (9.0%) |
5,722 (7.6%) |
4,750 (7.6%) |
5,693 (12.6%) |
3,964 (9.1%) |
4,274 (9.4%) |
3,909 (8.5%) |
2,534 (6.7%) |
|
N/A data either were not collected, estimated or made available.
† Numbers are homeless population age 18 and over and percentages are prevalence within entire homeless population.
The 2026 homeless count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found 44 unaccompanied homeless minors (under age 18) (56 in 2025; 106 in 2024; 93 in 2023; 121 in 2022). Of these, 36 were unsheltered, however, with only 8 in shelters.
Numbers reported here include all of Los Angeles County, including Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total | 3,218 | 2,378 | 2,746 | 3,286 | 2,471 | 1,992 | 1,580 | 1,726 | 1,505 | 1,261 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered | 1,386 | 1,197 | 1,590 | 1,316 | 1,332 | 831 | 809 | 1,064 | 886 | 780 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered | 1,832 | 1,181 | 1,156 | 1,970 | 1,139 | 1,161 | 771 | 662 | 619 | 481 | |
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Total | 44 | 55 | 106 | 93 | 121 | 32 | 35 | 92 | 71 | 90 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Sheltered | 8 | 36 | 37 | 74 | 116 | 5 | 31 | 26 | 58 | 88 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Unsheltered | 36 | 19 | 69 | 19 | 5 | 27 | 4 | 66 | 13 | 2 | |
Numbers reported here are for the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC), which includes all Los Angeles County communities except for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena. These estimated total number of homeless persons within the CoC was 68,576.
| Year | Cars | Vans | RVs | Tents | Makeshift | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | ||
| 2026 | 2,992 | N/A | 2,799 | N/A | 4,968 | N/A | 3,248 | N/A | 3,714 | N/A | |
| 2025 | 3,020 | N/A | 2,695 | N/A | 6,290 | N/A | 3,453 | N/A | 3,158 | N/A | |
| 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 | |
| Year | Cars | Vans | RVs | Tents | Makeshift | ||||||
| Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | ||
| 2022 | 3,367 | 4,636 | 2,330 | 3,202 | 7,178 | 11,564 | 4,304 | 5,699 | 4,786 | 7,226 | |
| 2021 | No count was conducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||||||||
| 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.
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.
