LA's homeless count results show the numbers in the city are up

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Aaron Schrank, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · July 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Helde Pereira documents sites of homeless encampments during LAHSA's annual homeless count on Feb. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Carlin Stiehl / LAist) Homelessness went up 3.4% in the city of Los Angeles this year, to 45,194 people living without stable shelter, according to four people briefed on ...

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

The upcoming release of the 2026 homeless count results will have significant implications for Los Angeles, particularly in light of Mayor Karen Bass's acknowledgment that the city's unhoused population has increased. This reversal comes after two years of declines, and Bass's attribution of the rise to state funding cuts and federal policy changes suggests that the city's efforts to address homelessness are being hindered by external factors. The reduction in state funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant program, known as HHAP, is a concern for Bass, and its impact will likely be felt in the city's ability to provide services and housing for those in need. As the city moves forward, it will be crucial to examine how these funding cuts and policy changes affect local initiatives and to consider ways to mitigate their effects, such as seeking alternative funding sources or advocating for changes in federal and state policies.

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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: parks · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · Reading time: 4 min

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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 23, 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

LA's homeless count results show the numbers in the city are up

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