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Homelessness in Los Angeles County
2023

Homeless in Los Angeles County

Homeless man on a park bench. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.


NOTE: Some 2023 data in tables below are missing (reflected by "---"). As of June 29, 2023, these specific bits of data are not yet released. The Almanac will update here as these are released.


On June 29, 2023, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued its first release of 2023 results from the annual homeless count taken in January. The count revealed a 9 percent increase in homelessness for Los Angeles County from 2020 to 2023 (no count was conducted in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The city of Los Angeles saw a slightly larger 10 percent increase.

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 75,518 people experienced homeless in Los Angeles County in 2023. Of these, more than 20,000 were provided with shelter. Unsheltered homelessness increased 14% from 2022 to 2023. The number of tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters visually tallied increased by 7% from 2022 to 2023 (from just under 22,000 to more than 23,000). Nonetheless, since 2019, Los Angeles County has seen a 68% increase in shelter beds for the homeless (from 15,617 in 2019 to 26,245 in 2023). The number of sheltered homeless veterans increased from 735 in 2022 to 1,070 in 2023 (from among 3,878 homeless veterans in 2023). Since 2020, more than 21,000 persons have been placed into permanent housing each year.

A continuing concern, still reflected in the 2023 count, is the percentage of homeless persons who are Black/African American. This racial group represents 32% of homeless in Los Angeles County as compared to only 8% of the African American population in Los Angeles County overall.

The number of homeless minors in 2023 (under the age of 18) was just over 6,200, or 8% of the county's homeless population. This was a slight decrease from more than 6,300 minors counted in 2022. The vast majority were accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.

Although homeless people are found throughout the county, the largest concentrations in 2023 continued to be in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (26%), South Los Angeles region (19%) and San Fernando Valley region (15%). Most homeless people are from the Los Angeles area and stay in or near the communities from which they came. About 3% are veterans.


Also see: Population in Poverty in Los Angeles County.

Other Facts About the 2023 Homeless Population in Los Angeles County:

  • 8% are under age 18.
  • 30% are female.
  • 2% are transgender.
  • 5% are transition-age youth (age 18-24).
  • 42% are chronically homeless.
  • 30% have substance abuse disorders.
  • 25% suffer from serious mental illness.


Homeless Population Counts
By the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

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 Los Angeles County. Over the course of three days in January, this count is conducted with the help of thousands of volunteers branching out throughout Los Angeles County.

Also see: Homeless Counts in Los Angeles County by City (Updated for 2022)
and independent homeless counts by Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena.


Homeless Population Counts in Los Angeles County
All Los Angeles County & City of Los Angeles

Numbers for all Los Angeles County communities are included.

Year City of Los Angeles All Los Angeles County
Total Unsheltered Sheltered Total Unsheltered Sheltered
2023 46,260 32,680 13,580 75,518 55,155 20,363
2022 41,980 28,458 13,522 69,144 48,548 20,596
2021 No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 41,290 28,852 12,438 66,436 48,041 18,395
2019 36,300 27,221 8,944 58,936 42,471 13,786
Year City of Los Angeles All Los Angeles County
Total Unsheltered Sheltered Total Unsheltered Sheltered
2018 31,285 22,887 8,398 52,765 39,396 13,369
2017 34,189 25,237 8,952 57,794 42,828 14,966
2015 25,686 17,687 7,999 44,359 31,018 13,341
2013 22,993 14,968 8,025 39,463 25,136 14,327
2011 - - - 39,135 20,517 19,176
Year City of Los Angeles All Los Angeles County
Total Unsheltered Sheltered Total Unsheltered Sheltered
2009 - - - 38,602 21,073 16,745
2007 - - - 52,956 39,168 13,788
2005 - - - 65,287 53,429 11,858

Homeless Population by Geographic Area
By Service Planning Areas (SPAs)

Numbers 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)
2023 4,686 10,443 5,009 18,531 6,669 12,995 6,511 7,775
2022 4,598 9,604 4,661 17,820 4,604 14,598 4,781 4,445
2021 No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 4,755 9,277 5,082 17,121 6,009 13,012 4,586 6,594
2019 3,293 7,730 4,489 16,436 5,262 9,543 5,095 4,409
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 4,559 7,459 3,552 15,393 5,511 9,243 5,189 4,282
2015 2,818 5,216 3,093 11,681 4,276 7,513 3,571 3,006
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
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)
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


Race/Ethnicity of Homeless
Annual Point-in-Time Count, 2018 through 2023

We still await the release of 2023 numbers for the City of Los Angeles.

The category Hispanic/Latino is actually an ethnic rather than a racial category. Persons identified as Hispanic/Latino may be from any racial group.

Race/ Ethnic Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
American Indian/ Alaska Native (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 474
(1.1%)
430
(1.0%)
530
(1.5%)
324
(1.0%)
723
(1.0%)
610
(0.9%)
686
(1.1%)
975
(1.7%)
565
(1.1%)
Asian (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 434
(1.0%)
502
(1.2%)
299
(0.8%)
352
(1.1%)
1,212
(1.7%)
598
(0.9%)
774
(1.2%)
455
(0.8%)
545
(1.1%)
Black/ African American (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 13,814
(32.9%)
15,622
(37.8%)
13,629
(37.7%)
12,235
(39.1%)
22,606
(31.7%)
19,523
(28.2%)
21,509
(33.8%)
18,719
(33.3%)
17,825
(35.7%)
Hispanic/ Latino --- 17,470
(41.6%)
13,424
(32.5%)
12,403
(34.3%)
10,813
(34.6%)
30,350
(42.6%)
28,940
(41.9%)
23,005
(36.1%)
20,523
(36.5%)
17,540
(35.1%)
Race/ Ethnic Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Multi-Racial/ Other (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 1,365
(3.3%)
943
(2.3%)
981
(2.7%)
506
(1.6%)
2,214
(3.1%)
1,637
(2.4%)
1,319
(2.1%)
1,400
(2.5%)
721
(1.4%)
Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 96
(0.2%)
76
(0.2%)
100
(0.3%)
77
(0.2%)
389
(0.5%)
142
(0.2%)
205
(0.3%)
314
(0.6%)
221
(0.4%)
White (not Hispanic/ Latino) --- 8,327
(19.8%)
10,293
(24.9%)
8,223
(22.7%)
6,978
(22.3%)
13,826
(19.4%)
13,661
(19.8%)
16,208
(25.4%)
13,871
(24.7%)
12,538
(25.1%)

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas, not including numbers for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.


Gender of Homeless
Annual Point-in-Time Count, 2018 Through 2023.

Female, Male, Non-Binary and Questioning categories include persons who also identify as Transgender.
We still await the release of 2023 numbers for the City of Los Angeles.

Gender City of Los Angeles Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Female --- 13,817 (32.9%) 13,330 (32.3%) 10,617 (30.6%) 9,577 (31.3%) 22,320 (30.8%) 21,145 (32.5%) 21,129 (32.2%) 18,331 (31.7%) 16,224 (31.3%)
Male --- 27,629 (65.8%) 27,790 (67.3%) 23,980 (69.0%) 20,907 (68.3%) 48,260 (66.6%) 43,212 (66.4%) 44,259 (67.5%) 39,348 (68.0%) 35,436 (68.4%)
Non-Binary --- 429 (1.0%) 170 (0.4%) 148 (0.4%) 113 (0.4%) 630 (0.9%) 624 (1.0%) 197 (0.3%) 200 (0.3%) 176 (0.3%)
Questioning --- 105 (0.3%) --- --- --- 110 (0.2%) 130 (0.2%) --- --- ---
Transgender --- 703 (1.7%) 666 (1.6%) 805 (2.3%) 688 (2.2%) 1,112 (1.5%) 917 (1.4%) 851 (1.3%) 1,057 (1.8%) 929 (1.8%)

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas, not including numbers for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.


Age Group of Homeless
Annual Point-in-Time Count, 2018 Through 2023.

Age Group Categories in 2023 Count

Some 2023 Homeless Count age groupings were modified from those used in earlier counts (see next table).
We still await the release of 2023 numbers for the City of Los Angeles.

Age Group/ Percent City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Under 18 --- 4,259
(10.1%)
4,923
(11.9%)
3,305
(9.1%)
3,022
(9.7%)
6,230
(8.2%)
6,346
(9.2%)
7,491
(11.8%)
5,061
(9.0%)
4,731
(9.5%)
18 - 24 --- 1,681
(4.0%)
2,910
(7.0%)
2,272
(6.3%)
2,052
(6.6%)
3,718
(4.9%)
2,786
(4.0%)
4,181
(6.6%)
3,527
(6.3%)
2,955
(5.9%)
25 - 64 --- --- --- --- --- 56,647
(74.9%)
--- --- --- ---
65 and Over --- --- --- --- --- 4,725
(6.6%)
--- --- --- ---

Age Group Categories Used in Homeless Counts Prior to 2023

Age Group/ Percent City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
25 - 54 --- 26,381
(62.8%)
23,479
(56.9%)
21,788
(60.1%)
18,446
(59.0%)
--- 40,853
(59.1%)
37,138
(58.3%)
24,063
(42.8%)
29,571
(59.2%)
55 - 61 --- 5,336
(12.7%)
5,898
(14.3%)
5,654
(15.6%)
4,755
(15.2%)
--- 8,422
(12.2%)
8,606
(13.5%)
8,375
(14.9%)
7,871
(15.8%)
62 and Over --- 4,323
(10.3%)
4,080
(9.9%)
3,146
(8.7%)
3,010
(9.6%)
--- 6,702
(9.7%)
6,290
(9.9%)
5,231
(9.3%)
4,827
(9.7%)

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas, not including numbers for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.


Other Characteristics of Homeless
Annual Point-in-Time Count, 2018 Through 2023.

We still await the release of 2023 numbers for some categorities and the City of Los Angeles.

Characteristic/ Percentage City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Veterans --- 1,895
(4.5%)
2,120
(5.1%)
2,197
(6.1%)
2,048
(6.5%)
3,878
(5.1%)
3,942
(5.7%)
3,681
(5.8%)
3,879
(6.9%)
3,886
(7.4%)
Chronically Homeless Individuals --- 17,272
(41.1%)
14,896
(36.1%)
10,084
(27.9%)
8,360
(26.7%)
31,991
(42.4%)
27,154
(39.3%)
23,075
(36.2%)
15,855
(28.2%)
13,559
(25.7%)
Chronically Homeless Family Members --- 910
(2.2%)
867
(2.1%)
632
(1.7%)
278
(0.9%)
--- 1,422
(2.1%)
1,407
(2.2%)
674
(1.2%)
516
(1.0%)
Substance Use Disorder --- 10,636
(28.2%)
10,357
(25.1%)
4,888
(2%)
4,738
(15.1%)
--- 16,431
(26.2%)
15,203
(27.0%)
7,829
(13.9%)
7,117
(13.5%)
Characteristic/ Percentage City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Persons with HIV/AIDS --- 900
(2.4%)
904
(2.2%)
1,221
(3.4%)
588
(1.9%)
--- 1,478
(2.4%)
1,165
(2.1%)
1,309
(2.3%)
740
(1.4%)
Serious Mental Illness --- 9,367
(24.8%)
9,123
(22.1%)
12,869
(35.6%)
7,843
(25.1%)
--- 15,449
(24.7%)
14,125
(25.1%)
13,675
(24.3%)
12,748
(24.2%)
Physical Disability --- 8,343
(22.1%)
6,955
(16.8%)
6,095
(16.9%)
4,391
(14.0%)
--- 12,111
(19.3%)
10,833
(19.3%)
9,232
(16.4%)
6,756
(12.8%)
Developmental Disability --- 4,425
(11.7%)
4,064
(9.8%)
3,089
(8.5%)
1,764
(5.6%)
--- 5,917
(9.4%)
5,292
(9.4%)
4,370
(7.8%)
2,530
(4.8%)
Characteristic/ Percentage City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Domestic Violence Experience --- 15,662
(41.5%)
11,622
(28.1%)
12,860
(35.6%)
9,088
(29.0%)
--- 23,091
(36.9%)
18,345
(32.6%)
20,265
(36.0%)
13,374
(25.3%)
Homeless Due to Fleeing Domestic Violence --- 2,534
(6.7%)
2,741
(6.6%)
1,870
(5.2%)
1,913
(6.1%)
--- 4,750
(7.6%)
3,884
(6.9%)
3,940
(7.0%)
3,076
(5.8%)

Physical Disability, Developmental Disability, and Domestic Violence Experience. Numbers in these categories do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.
* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.
† Numbers are homeless population age 18 and over and percentages are prevalence in this population only.



The 2022 homeless count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found, county-wide, 121 unaccompanied homeless minors (under age 18) (69 in 2020; 66 in 2019; 63 in 2018). Most were sheltered, however, with only five found to be unsheltered.


Homeless Young People
Point-in-Time Count, 2018 Through 2023

We still await the release of 2023 numbers for some categories and the City of Los Angeles.

Youth Age Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total --- 1,037 2,083 1,833 1,573 3,718 2,786 3,029 2,818 2,274
Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered --- 574 613 569 576 1,593 1,747 1,005 931 864
Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered --- 463 1,470 1,237 997 2,125 1,039 2,075 1,887 1,410
Youth Age Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County*
2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Total --- 90 17 54 58 --- 121 69 66 63
Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Sheltered --- 88 13 21 31 --- 116 25 21 35
Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Unsheltered --- 2 4 33 27 --- 5 44 45 28

* Numbers do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.


Homeless in Motor Vehicles**
By Service Planning Areas (SPAs)
Point-in-Time Count, 2018 Through 2023

We still await the release of 2023 numbers for this table.

Service Planning Area 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People
Antelope Valley
(SPA 1)
--- --- 1,873 2,518 950 1,917 731 1,047 706 1,271
San Fernando Valley
(SPA 2)*
--- --- 2,315 3,392 1,695 3,171 2,037 3,287 1,895 3,292
San Gabriel Valley
(SPA 3)*
--- --- 503 787 675 1,241 523 964 563 959
Metro LA
(SPA 4)
--- --- 1,961 3,355 1,950 3,063 1,579 2,712 1,449 2,474
West LA
(SPA 5)
--- --- 895 1,391 1,055 1,714 987 1,555 790 1,341
Service Planning Area 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018
Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People Motor Vehicles People
South LA
(SPA 6)
--- --- 3,394 4,952 2,606 4,108 2,049 3,330 1,767 3,057
East LA County
(SPA 7)
--- --- 790 1,199 1,063 1,844 998 1,568 894 1,539
South Bay/ Harbor
(SPA 8)*
--- --- 1,144 1,804 1,130 1,846 1,077 2,062 1,053 1,816
Total* 14,096 --- 12,875 19,402 11,124 18,904 9,981 16,525 9,117 15,748

* Numbers do not include those for Glendale (SPA 2), Long Beach (SPA 8) and Pasadena (SPA 3).
** Motor vehicles include cars, vans, motor homes and RVs.

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.


TAX & BOND REVENUES TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS:

City of Los Angeles Supportive Housing Proposition (Proposition HHH, $1.2-billion bond, passed November 2016)
County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative (Measure H, 1/4-cent sales tax increase, passed March 2017).


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.

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