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LA homelessness rose in 2026, official count shows
Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Aaron Schrank , LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 24, 2026
· 11 min read
Henry Wilkinson and Kristina Ross record a makeshift shelter during LAHSA's homeless count on Jan. 20, 2026. (Jordan Rynning / LAist) Homelessness went up in Los Angeles this year following two previous years of declines, according to official homeless count findings released Friday. The populati...
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Summary created by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Aaron Schrank, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway 9% between early 2025 and 2026, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The rise in homelessness in Los Angeles will likely be a major issue in the upcoming mayoral election, as Mayor Karen Bass's campaign has heavily relied on prior declines in homelessness counts as evidence of her effective approach. The 7.9% increase in unsheltered individuals in the city will be a challenge for her to overcome, particularly given her emphasis on addressing homelessness as her top priority. The significant increase in the central Metro region, which includes Skid Row, will also be a concern for local officials and residents. The decline in sheltered individuals, despite the increase in unsheltered ones, suggests that the city's efforts to provide temporary housing may not be keeping pace with the growing need. As the city moves forward, it will be important to examine the strategies and resources being used to address homelessness and determine what adjustments need to be made to reverse this trend.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 11 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Henry Wilkinson and Kristina Ross record a makeshift shelter during LAHSA's homeless count on Jan. 20, 2026. (Jordan Rynning / LAist) Homelessness went up in Los Angeles this year following two previous years of declines, according to official homeless count findings released Friday. The populati...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Aaron Schrank at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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