Homeless man on a park bench. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.
On July 14, 2025, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued its first release of 2025 results from the annual homeless count taken in February. The count revealed a 4.0% decrease in the number of homeless people for Los Angeles County from 2024 to 2025. The city of Los Angeles saw a decrease of 3.42%.
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 72,308 people experienced homeless in Los Angeles County in 2025. Of these, 24,895 were provided with shelter. Unsheltered homelessness decreased 9.5% from 2024 to 2025. The number of tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters visually tallied decreased by 12.6% from 2024 to 2025 (from 21,288 to 18,616).
The number of homeless transitional age youth (age 18-24) also decreased from 2,746 in 2024 to 2,699 in 2025 - a 1.7% drop. Homeless families, however, increased in number from 2024, by 5.9%, from 3,520 families in 2024 to 3,728 in 2025.
A continuing concern, continuing to be reflected in the 2025 count, is the percentage of homeless persons who are Black/African American. This racial group makes up 33% of homeless in Los Angeles County, in contrast to only 8% of the population of Los Angeles County overall.
The number of homeless persons suffering substance use disorder in 2025 was 9,035, or 21% of the county's homeless population. This was a 16% decrease from 10,688 counted in 2024. Most were unsheltered.
Although homeless people are found throughout the county, the largest concentrations in 2025 continued to be in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (25%), South Los Angeles region (20%) and San Fernando Valley region (16%). Most homeless people are from the Los Angeles area and stay in or near the communities from which they came. Homeless numbers declined between 2023 and 2024 in all L.A. County regions, except for the Antelope Valley (+1.2%), South Bay/Harbor (0.7%), and San Fernando Valley (+0.5%).
Also see: Population in Poverty in Los Angeles County.
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 a few days in January or February, 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
and independent homeless counts by Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena.
Numbers here are reported to include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2025 | 72,308 | 47,413 | 24,895 | 43,699 | 26,972 | 16,727 | ||
| 2024 | 75,312 | 52,365 | 22,947 | 45,252 | 29,275 | 15,977 | ||
| 2023 | 75,518 | 55,155 | 20,363 | 46,260 | 32,680 | 13,580 | ||
| 2022 | 69,144 | 48,548 | 20,596 | 41,980 | 28,458 | 13,522 | ||
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2021 | No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||
| 2020 | 66,436 | 48,041 | 18,395 | 41,290 | 28,852 | 12,438 | ||
| 2019 | 56,257 | 42,471 | 13,786 | 35,550 | 26,606 | 8,944 | ||
| 2018 | 52,765 | 39,396 | 13,369 | 31,285 | 22,887 | 8,398 | ||
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2017 | 55,048 | 40,082 | 14,966 | 33,138 | 24,186 | 8,952 | ||
| 2016 | 46,874 | 34,701 | 12,173 | 28,464 | 21,338 | 7,126 | ||
| 2015 | 44,359 | 31,018 | 13,341 | 25,686 | 17,687 | 7,999 | ||
| 2013 | 53,798 | 40,864 | 12,934 | 29,682 | 21,657 | 8,025 | ||
| Year | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2011 | 45,422 | 28,540 | 16,882 | 23,539 | 12,977 | 10,562 | ||
| 2009 | 47,572 | 28,644 | 18,928 | 25,771 | 15,770 | 10,001 | ||
| 2007 | 68,608 | 57,166 | 11,442 | 40,144 | 32,350 | 7,794 | ||
| 2005 | 82,291 | 72,413 | 9,878 | 48,103 | 41,329 | 6,774 | ||
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,753 | 10,956 | 5,068 | 16,955 | 5,040 | 13,598 | 4,861 | 9,060 |
| 2024 | 6,672 | 10,876 | 5,399 | 18,389 | 5,383 | 13,886 | 5,899 | 8,804 |
| 2023 | 4,686 | 10,638 | 5,565 | 18,531 | 6,669 | 12,995 | 6,511 | 9,923 |
| 2022 | 4,598 | 9,829 | 5,173 | 17,820 | 4,604 | 14,598 | 4,781 | 7,741 |
| 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) |
| 2021 | No count counducted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||
| 2020 | 4,755 | 9,274 | 5,082 | 17,121 | 6,009 | 13,012 | 4,586 | 6,594 |
| 2019 | 3,293 | 7,973 | 5,031 | 16,436 | 5,262 | 9,543 | 5,095 | 6,303 |
| 2018 | 3,203 | 7,738 | 4,282 | 14,218 | 4,401 | 8,343 | 4,569 | 6,011 |
| 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) |
| 2017 | 3,825 | 7,341 | 4,094 | 14,844 | 5,411 | 9,036 | 4,533 | 5,964 |
| 2016 | 3,038 | 7,334 | 3,142 | 11,860 | 4,659 | 7,459 | 3,469 | 5,913 |
| 2015 | 2,818 | 5,424 | 3,725 | 11,681 | 4,276 | 7,513 | 3,571 | 5,351 |
| 2013 | 2,113 | 4,836 | 2,794 | 10,472 | 3,667 | 7,045 | 2,429 | 2,168 |
| 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) |
| 2011 | 1,412 | 3,720 | 2,499 | 10,086 | 3,512 | 7,541 | 3,208 | 2,644 |
| 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
The category Hispanic/Latino is actually an ethnic rather than racial category. Persons identified as Hispanic/Latino may be from any one or combination of racial groups.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Race/ Ethnic Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native | 2,474 (3.6%) |
1,056 (1.5%) |
723 (1.0%) |
610 (0.9%) |
686 (1.1%) |
1,413 (2.8%) |
1,474 (3.3%) |
475 (1.0%) |
474 (1.1%) |
430 (1.0%) |
|
| Asian | 1,754 (2.6%) |
927 (0.01%) |
1,212 (0.02%) |
598 (0.01%) |
774 (0.01%) |
1,290 (2.6%) |
1,053 (2.3%) |
896 (1.9%) |
434 (0.01%) |
502 (0.01%) |
|
| Black/ African American (not Hispanic/ Latino) | 21,809 (32.1%) |
21,160 (29.7%) |
22,606 (31.7%) |
19,523 (28.2%) |
21,509 (33.8%) |
14,223 (28.4%) |
15,885 (35.1%) |
15,485 (33.5%) |
13,814 (32.9%) |
15,622 (37.8%) |
|
| Hispanic/ Latino | 31,327 (46.1%) |
30,881 (43.4%) |
30,350 (42.6%) |
28,940 (41.9%) |
23,005 (36.1%) |
20,072 (40.1%) |
19,186 (42.4%) |
18,871 (40.8%) |
17,470 (41.6%) |
13,424 (32.5%) |
|
| Race/ Ethnic Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Middle Eastern or North African | 404 (0.6%) |
122 (0.3%) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 358 (0.7%) |
95 (0.1%) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Multi-Racial/ Other | N/A | 1,889 (2.7%) |
2,214 (3.1%) |
1,637 (2.4%) |
1,319 (2.1%) |
N/A | N/A | 1,368 (3.0%) |
1,365 (3.3%) |
943 (2.3%) |
|
| Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander | 560 (0.8%) |
288 (0.4%) |
389 (0.5%) |
142 (0.2%) |
205 (0.3%) |
369 (0.7%) |
379 (0.8%) |
323 (0.7%) |
96 (0.2%) |
76 (0.2%) |
|
| White | 19,549 (28.8%) |
14,905 (20.9%) |
13,826 (19.4%) |
13,661 (19.8%) |
16,208 (25.4%) |
12,294 (24.6%) |
13,926 (30.8%) |
8,842 (19.1%) |
8,327 (19.8%) |
10,293 (24.9%) |
|
* Prior to 2024, the L.A. Homeless Count limited each racial category (except Hispanic/Latino and Multi-Racial) only to those of one race alone. No racial/ethnic category counted those of Hispanic/Latino heritage, except for one. Those of Hispanic/Latino heritage were counted together under that category, regardless of racial background. Since the 2024 Homeless Count, this changed. Since 2024, everyone within each racial category was counted regardless of Hispanic/Latino heritage. At the same time, since 2024, the Homeless Count did not provide a number for Multi-racial persons for the City of Los Angeles. Consequently, since the 2024 count, the Almanac found no way to parse out homeless racial numbers in order to fairly compare numbers to previous years.
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
Female, Male, Non-Binary and Questioning categories include persons who also identify as Transgender.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Gender | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Female | 22,469 (33.1%) |
23,804 (32.8%) |
22,320 (30.8%) |
21,145 (32.5%) |
21,129 (32.2%) |
14,554 (33.3%) |
14,490 (31.3%) |
14,510 (30.8%) |
13,817 (32.9%) |
13,330 (32.3%) | |
| Male | 44,713 (65.8%) |
47,113 (64.9%) |
48,260 (66.6%) |
43,212 (66.4%) |
44,259 (67.5%) |
28,775 (65.8%) |
30,554 (66.0%) |
31,293 (66.3%) |
27,629 (65.8%) |
27,790 (67.3%) |
|
| Non-Binary | 382 (0.6%) |
215 (0.3%) |
630 (0.9%) |
624 (1.0%) |
197 (0.3%) |
215 (0.5%) |
146 (0.3%) |
369 (0.8%) |
429 (1.0%) |
170 (0.4%) |
|
| Transgender | 355 (0.5%) |
1,318 (1.8%) |
1,112 (1.5%) |
917 (1.4%) |
851 (1.3%) |
276 (0.6%) |
1,022 (2.2%) |
914 (1.9%) |
703 (1.7%) |
666 (1.6%) |
|
| Questioning & Other | 298 (0.4%) |
134 (0.2%) |
110 (0.2%) |
130 (0.2%) |
N/A | 113 (0.3%) |
85 (0.2%) |
88 (0.2%) |
105 (0.3%) |
N/A | |
N/A data either were not collected, estimated or made available.
Age Group Numbers From 2022 Through 2025 Counts
(Age groupings after age 54 differed in the 2022 count forward)
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Under 18 | 6,435 (9.5%) |
6,414 (8.5%) |
6,230 (8.7%) |
6,346 (9.7%) |
4,061 (9.3%) |
4,020 (8.9%) |
3,925 (8.5%) |
4,259 (10.1%) |
|
| 18 - 24 | 3,080 (4.5%) |
3,167 (4.2%) |
3,718 (5.2%) |
2,786 (4.3%) |
2,113 (4.8%) |
2,038 (4.5%) |
1,834 (4.0%) |
1,681 (4.0%) |
|
| 25 - 54 | 41,388 (60.9%) |
46,971 (62.4%) |
43,804 (61.4%) |
40,854 (62.7%) |
25,240 (60.0%) |
27,826 (61.5%) |
28,470 (61.5%) |
26,381 (62.8%) |
|
| 55 - 64 | 10,545 (15.5%) |
13,652 (18.1%) |
12,843 (18.0%) |
10,881 (16.7%) |
6,605 (15.1%) |
7,387 (16.3%) |
8,604 (18.6%) |
7,064 (16.8%) |
|
| 65 and Over | 6,470 (9.5%) |
5,108 (6.8%) |
4,725 (6.6%) |
4,244 (6.5%) |
4,680 (10.7%) |
3,981 (8.8%) |
3,427 (7.4%) |
2,595 (6.2%) |
|
Age Group Numbers in the 2020 Count (no count in 2021 due to COVID-19)
(The age groupings after age 54 differed prior to the 2022 count)
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Age Group/ Percent | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 | ||
| Under 18 | 7,491 (11.8%) | 4,923 (11.9%) | |
| 18 - 24 | 4,181 (6.6%) | 2,910 (7.0%) | |
| 25 - 54 | 37,138 (58.3%) | 23,479 (56.9%) | |
| 55 - 61 | 8,606 0(13.5%) | 5,898 (14.3%) | |
| 62 and Over | 6,290 (9.9%) | 4,080 (9.9%) |
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Issue | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Veterans | N/A | 3,410 (4.5%) |
3,878 (5.1%) |
3,942 (5.7%) |
3,681 (5.8%) |
Pending Data | 1,834 (4.1%) |
2,696 (5.8%) |
1,895 (4.5%) |
2,120 (5.1%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Individuals | 25,858 (38.1%) |
30,194 (40.1%) |
31,991 (42.4%) |
27,154 (39.3%) |
23,075 (36.2%) |
17,099 (39.1%) |
18,936 (41.8%) |
21,517 (46.5%) |
17,272 (41.1%) |
14,896 (36.1%) |
|
| Chronically Homeless Family Members | 1,755 (2.6%) |
1,657 (2.2%) |
1,549 (2.1%) |
1,422 (2.1%) |
1,407 (2.2%) |
1,096 (2.5%) |
1,039 (2.3%) |
969 (2.1%) |
910 (2.2%) |
867 (2.1%) |
|
| Substance Use Disorder† | 14,945 (22.0%) |
17,248 (22.9%) |
19,364 (25.6%) |
16,431 (26.2%) |
15,203 (27.0%) |
9,035 (20.7%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
12,567 (27.2%) |
10,636 (28.2%) |
10,357 (25.1%) |
|
| Issue | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Persons with HIV/AIDS† | 1,236 (1.8%) |
1,263 (1.7%) |
1,480 (2.0%) |
1,478 (2.4%) |
1,165 (2.1%) |
891 (2.0%) |
1,834 (4.1%) |
940 (2.0%) |
900 (2.4%) |
904 (2.2%) |
|
| Serious Mental Illness† | 15,970 (23.5%) |
15,666 (20.8%) |
15,994 (21.2%) |
15,449 (24.7%) |
14,125 (25.1%) |
9,895 (22.6%) |
10,688 (23.6%) |
11,396 (24.6%) |
9,367 (24.8%) |
9,123 (22.1%) |
|
| Physical Disability† | 14,513 (21.4%) |
14,162 (18.8%) |
12,296 (16.3%) |
12,111 (19.3%) |
10,833 (19.3%) |
8,675 (19.9%) |
8,442 (18.7%) |
8,775 (19.0%) |
8,343 (22.1%) |
6,955 (16.8%) |
|
| Issue | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Development Disability† | 5,622 (8.3%) |
4,820 (6.4%) |
6,379 (8.4%) |
5,917 (9.4%) |
5,292 (9.4%) |
3,251 (7.4%) |
3,199 (7.1%) |
4,288 (9.3%) |
4,425 (11.7%) |
4,064 (9.8%) |
|
| Domestic Violence Experience† | 25,660 (37.8%) |
27,899 (37.0%) |
24,639 (32.6%) |
23,091 (36.9%) |
18,345 (32.6%) |
16,435 (37.6%) |
17,110 (37.8%) |
16,686 (36.1%) |
15,662 (41.5%) |
11,622 (28.1%) |
|
| Homeless Due to Fleeing Domestic Violence† | 6,014 (8.9%) |
6,800 (9.0%) |
5,722 (7.6%) |
4,750 (7.6%) |
3,884 (6.9%) |
3,945 (9.0%) |
4,274 (9.4%) |
3,909 (8.5%) |
2,534 (6.7%) |
2,741 (6.6%) |
|
N/A data either were not collected, estimated or made available.
† Numbers are homeless population age 18 and over and percentages are prevalence within entire homeless population.
The 2025 homeless count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found, county-wide, 56 unaccompanied homeless minors (under age 18) (106 in 2024; 93 in 2023; 121 in 2022). Most were sheltered, however, with 19 found to be unsheltered.
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total | 2,264 | 2,746 | 3,286 | 2,471 | 3,651 | 1,739 | 1,726 | 1,505 | 1,261 | 2,477 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered | 1,157 | 1,590 | 1,316 | 1,332 | 1,414 | 961 | 1,064 | 886 | 780 | 955 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered | 1,107 | 1,156 | 1,970 | 1,139 | 2,237 | 778 | 662 | 619 | 481 | 1,522 | |
| Youth Age Group | All Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | ||
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Total | 56 | 106 | 93 | 121 | 69 | 35 | 92 | 71 | 90 | 17 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Sheltered | 38 | 37 | 74 | 116 | 25 | 31 | 26 | 58 | 88 | 13 | |
| Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Unsheltered | 18 | 69 | 19 | 5 | 44 | 4 | 66 | 13 | 2 | 4 | |
Numbers here do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.
| Year | Cars | Vans | RVs | Tents | Makeshift | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | |
| 2025 | 3,020 | N/A | 2,695 | N/A | 6,290 | N/A | 3,453 | N/A | 3,158 | N/A |
| 2024 | 3,709 | N/A | 2,986 | N/A | 6,854 | N/A | 4,232 | N/A | 3,507 | N/A |
| 2023 | 3,919 | N/A | 3,364 | N/A | 6,814 | N/A | 4,293 | N/A | 5,049 | N/A |
| Year | Cars | Vans | RVs | Tents | Makeshift | |||||
| Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | Shelters | People | |
| 2022 | 3,367 | 4,636 | 2,330 | 3,202 | 7,178 | 11,564 | 4,304 | 5,699 | 4,786 | 7,226 |
| 2020 | 2,937 | 4,395 | 2,984 | 5,229 | 5,203 | 9,280 | 4,020 | 6,062 | 3,617 | 6,016 |
| 2019 | 2,748 | 4,001 | 2,360 | 3,697 | 4,873 | 8,829 | 3,276 | 4,223 | 4,139 | 6,862 |
N/A Data either not collected, estimated or made available.
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.
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.
Countering Myths of Homelessness
We can only hope to end homelessness if we learn the truth about homelessness.
