Los Angeles has seen a significant increase in homelessness, with the total number of people experiencing homelessness in the city rising by 3.4% to 45,194, according to a long-delayed count released Friday. The number of individuals living unsheltered on streets, sidewalks, parks, and in vehicles saw an even more alarming surge of 7.9%, reversing a two-year trend of declines. Across Los Angeles County, the overall homeless population also increased, from 73,040 in 2025 to 72,195 in 2026, a 1.2% rise.
The figures represent a significant political setback for Mayor Karen Bass, who declared a homelessness emergency upon taking office in December 2022 and made reducing street homelessness a central goal of her administration. The city is currently spending nearly $3 billion annually on shelters, housing, and homeless programs.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), a joint city-county agency responsible for coordinating much of the region's homelessness response and administering federal and local funding, oversees an annual budget of approximately $845 million. LAHSA manages contracts with service providers, coordinates outreach teams, maintains the homeless database, and conducts the annual Point-in-Time Count.
The new numbers have reignited criticism from city leaders who have long argued that the region's homelessness response lacks accountability. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, a vocal critic of LAHSA, stated that the figures demonstrate the current system's failure despite substantial public investment. She has previously called for reforms to LAHSA's structure, pointing to Councilwoman Nithya Raman, chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, as an obstacle to progress.
"These numbers underscore what I’ve been saying for years: we will not solve the homelessness crisis without accountability, transparency and a system that delivers real progress," Rodriguez said. "Until Los Angeles commits to a homelessness response built on direct oversight, clear accountability and measurable outcomes, we should not expect different results."
Paul Webster, executive director of the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which is suing the city and county over their homelessness crisis management, echoed concerns about accountability. "If there was a competent agency dedicated to outcomes, transparency, and accountability for the billions spent every year, we may have a glimpse at what should be done to solve this humanitarian crisis," Webster said. "Instead, we have poor leadership, finger pointing, and endless distractions that prevent getting to the real issues of addiction, mental illness, affordable housing, and public safety."
Skid Row, a neighborhood long considered the epicenter of the crisis, experienced a dramatic increase in its homeless population, which rose from 3,427 in 2025 to 4,215 this year, an increase of approximately 23%. In contrast, Councilwoman Nithya Raman highlighted a reduction of 135 people experiencing homelessness in her district, Council District 4. However, city data indicated that Mayor Bass's office housed 216 individuals in the same period through its "Inside Safe" operations and encampment resolutions.
On the Westside, Councilwoman Traci Park reported a 33% reduction in overall homelessness in her district, Council District 11, marking the third consecutive year of decline, with significant decreases in tent encampments and vehicles. "For a third year in a row, the results in CD11 speak for themselves," Park said. "We saw another 33% reduction overall, with major decreases to both tent and vehicle encampments. We’re done accepting the false choice between compassion and public safety. They are not mutually exclusive. What works is offering alternatives, regulating public spaces, and enforcing the law."
The report also comes amid increasing pressure on LAHSA. Los Angeles County is considering establishing its own homelessness department and has voted to shift hundreds of millions of dollars away from LAHSA, citing accountability and oversight concerns. Furthermore, federal officials suspended the agency from administering approximately $240 million in HUD homelessness grants while an investigation into LAHSA's financial management and alleged conflicts of interest continues. Previous audits have questioned the agency's oversight of billions of dollars in homelessness spending, with one court-ordered review finding that LAHSA could only account for about $13.8 million of $50.8 million in cash advances to service providers.
LAHSA has denied any wrongdoing and has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the HUD suspension, asserting that the move jeopardizes critical homelessness programs across Los Angeles.