The homeless population in Los Angeles' Skid Row has surged by 23% in the past year, according to the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. The figures show an increase of 907 individuals, bringing the total number of people living in the area to 4,892, up from 3,985 in 2025. This marks one of the largest year-over-year increases in the city and represents a setback for efforts to address the escalating crisis in a neighborhood long considered its epicenter.
Longtime Skid Row resident Don Garza, a U.S. Marine veteran, stated that the new numbers align with his daily observations. He noted that while encampment sweeps may create the visual impression of improvement by removing tents from sidewalks, the underlying homelessness persists. "The city turns around and says, ‘Look, there’s no tents,'" Garza said. "‘So we cleaned everything up,’ and everybody buys it. But it’s still homelessness."
Skid Row continues to serve as a central hub for the region's homeless services, attracting individuals seeking meals, outreach, medical care, and other assistance before they disperse throughout the city. "They come here, they get whatever they can. Then, before it gets dark, they all scatter out across the city," Garza explained.
This increase in homelessness occurs despite substantial public investment. Los Angeles has allocated $11.3 million in state homelessness grants for Skid Row housing operations. Additionally, the county's $280 million Skid Row Action Plan is expanding housing, behavioral health services, and a new care campus. Multiple city-funded outreach teams are also dedicated exclusively to Skid Row, aiming to connect individuals with shelter, housing, and treatment.
The latest figures represent a reversal of a three-year trend of declining homeless counts in the area. These declines were seen under former Councilmember Kevin de León, who had prioritized coordinated encampment cleanups, outreach, and housing placements in Skid Row.
The current increase falls under the tenure of Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Downtown Los Angeles, including Skid Row. Jurado, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, campaigned on promises to expand affordable housing, prevent displacement, and address the root causes of homelessness. Her district has received a significant portion of funding from the city's Measure ULA mansion tax program, with over 1,700 affordable housing units planned across 25 projects since she took office.
Paul Webster, executive director of the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which is involved in litigation against the city and county over the homelessness crisis, commented that the recent data indicates Los Angeles continues to spend heavily without a clear measure of success. "The increase in LA homelessness counts is no surprise," Webster stated. "In LA, despite more money, more capacity, and more attention than ever, no one knows what causes homelessness to increase or decrease."