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Homelessness in Los Angeles County
2023

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.

L.A. Video