Los Angeles Almanac Photo.
On September 8, 2022, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued its first release of 2022 results from the annual homeless count taken in February. The count revealed a 4.1 percent increase in homelessness for Los Angeles County from 2020 to 2022 (no count was conducted in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The city of Los Angeles saw a smaller 1.7 percent increase.
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 69,144 people experienced homeless in Los Angeles County during 2022. Of these, more than 20,000 were provided with shelter on any night. Although unsheltered homelessness only increased 1% in 2022 over 2020, the number of tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters increased by 17%. This was largely a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to minimize the spread of the virus among this highly vulnerable population. Nonetheless, since 2019, Los Angeles County saw a 62% increase in shelter beds for the homeless. The sheltered population increased 12% over 2020.
One alarming increase found in the 2020 count is the Hispanic/Latino percentage of the homeless population, increasing from 36% in 2020 to 42% in 2022.
The number of homeless minors in 2022 (under the age of 18) was just over 6,500, or 9% of the county's homeless population. The vast majority of these, however, were accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Although homeless people are found throughout the county, the largest concentrations in 2022 continued to be in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (26%), South Los Angeles region (21%) and San Fernando Valley region (14%). Most homeless people are from the Los Angeles area and stay in or near the communities from which they came. About 6% are veterans. African Americans make up 34% of Los Angeles County's homeless population – a highly disproportionate number as compared to the percentage of the African American population in Los Angeles County overall (about 8 percent).
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 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.
Numbers for all Los Angeles County communities are included.
| Year | City of Los Angeles | All Los Angeles County | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 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 | ||
| 2018 | 31,285 | 22,887 | 8,398 | 52,765 | 39,396 | 13,369 | ||
| Year | City of Los Angeles | All Los Angeles County | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 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 | ||
| 2009 | - | - | - | 38,602 | 21,073 | 16,745 | ||
| Year | City of Los Angeles | All Los Angeles County | ||||||
| Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | Total | Unsheltered | Sheltered | |||
| 2007 | - | - | - | 52,956 | 39,168 | 13,788 | ||
| 2005 | - | - | - | 65,287 | 53,429 | 11,858 | ||
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,598 | 9,829 | 5,173 | 17,820 | 4,604 | 14,598 | 4,747 | 7,775 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 2009 | 1,609 | 3,312 | 2,780 | 10,339 | 3,738 | 5,504 | 2,993 | 2,401 |
| 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) |
| 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/ Ethnic Group | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| American Indian/ Alaska Native | 474 (1.1%) |
430 (1.0%) |
530 (1.5%) |
324 (1.0%) |
610 (0.9%) |
686 (1.1%) |
975 (1.7%) |
565 (1.1%) |
| Asian | 434 (1.0%) |
502 (1.2%) |
299 (0.8%) |
352 (1.1%) |
598 (0.9%) |
774 (1.2%) |
455 (0.8%) |
545 (1.1%) |
| Black/ African American | 13,814 (32.9%) |
15,622 (37.8%) |
13,629 (37.7%) |
12,235 (39.1%) |
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%) |
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* | ||||||
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Multi-Racial/ Other | 1,365 (3.3%) |
943 (2.3%) |
981 (2.7%) |
506 (1.6%) |
1,637 (2.4%) |
1,319 (2.1%) |
1,400 (2.5%) |
721 (1.4%) |
| Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander | 96 (0.2%) |
76 (0.2%) |
100 (0.3%) |
77 (0.2%) |
142 (0.2%) |
205 (0.3%) |
314 (0.6%) |
221 (0.4%) |
| White | 8,327 (19.8%) |
10,293 (24.9%) |
8,223 (22.7%) |
6,978 (22.3%) |
13,661 (19.8%) |
16,208 (25.4%) |
13,871 (24.7%) |
12,538 (25.1%) |
* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.
| Age Group/ Percentage | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Under 18 | 4,259 (10.1%) |
4,923 (11.9%) |
3,305 (9.1%) |
3,022 (9.7%) |
6,502 (9.4%) |
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%) |
2,960 (4.3%) |
4,181 (6.6%) |
3,527 (6.3%) |
2,955 (5.9%) |
| 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%) |
| Age Group/ Percentage | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| 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. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.
| Characteristic/Percentage | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Veterans | 1,895 (4.5%) |
2,120 (5.1%) |
2,197 (6.1%) |
2,048 (6.5%) |
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%) |
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* | ||||||
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 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* | ||||||
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 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.
| Youth Age Group | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total | 1,037 | 2,083 | 1,833 | 1,573 | 2,067 | 3,029 | 2,818 | 2,274 |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered | 574 | 613 | 569 | 576 | 994 | 1,005 | 931 | 864 |
| Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered | 463 | 1,470 | 1,237 | 997 | 1,073 | 2,075 | 1,887 | 1,410 |
| Youth Age Group | City of Los Angeles | All of Los Angeles County* | ||||||
| 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 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.
| Service Planning Area | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | |
| Antelope Valley (SPA 1) |
2,518 | 1,873 | 950 | 1,917 | 731 | 1,047 | 706 | 1,271 |
| San Fernando Valley (SPA 2)* |
3,392 | 2,315 | 1,695 | 3,171 | 2,037 | 3,287 | 1,895 | 3,292 |
| San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3)* |
787 | 503 | 675 | 1,241 | 523 | 964 | 563 | 959 |
| Metro LA (SPA 4) |
3,355 | 1,961 | 1,950 | 3,063 | 1,579 | 2,712 | 1,449 | 2,474 |
| West LA (SPA 5) |
1,391 | 895 | 1,055 | 1,714 | 987 | 1,555 | 790 | 1,341 |
| Service Planning Area | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||
| Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | Motor Vehicles | People | |
| South LA (SPA 6) |
4,952 | 3,394 | 2,606 | 4,108 | 2,049 | 3,330 | 1,767 | 3,057 |
| East LA County (SPA 7) |
1,199 | 790 | 1,063 | 1,844 | 998 | 1,568 | 894 | 1,539 |
| South Bay/ Harbor (SPA 8)* |
1,804 | 1,144 | 1,130 | 1,846 | 1,077 | 2,062 | 1,053 | 1,816 |
| Total* | 19,402 | 12,875 | 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.
Countering Myths of Homelessness
We can only hope to end homelessness if we learn the truth about homelessness.
