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13h ago

Los Angeles County Records Second Consecutive Homelessness Decline as Unsheltered Count Falls 9.5%

The Board of Supervisors reallocated Measure A funds to a new homelessness department launching in 2026 to strengthen oversight

A court-ordered audit has revealed a deep lack of financial oversight in Los Angeles’ homelessness spending, raising concerns about the mismanagement of billions of taxpayer dollars. The audit, released by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, found that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and city officials failed to accurately track expenditures, verify services, or ensure accountability among vendors. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The annual Point-in-Time count in February found 72,308 people experiencing homelessness countywide and 47,413 living unsheltered, marking year-over-year drops of 4 percent and 9.5 percent respectively.
  • Sheltered homelessness rose 8.5 percent, boosting the share of individuals in interim housing to roughly one-third of the county’s homeless population.
  • Officials attribute the downturn largely to targeted encampment resolution programs such as Mayor Bass’s Inside Safe initiative and the county’s Pathway Home effort.
  • Recent audits uncovered financial and performance oversights at LAHSA, prompting the Board of Supervisors to withdraw $300 million in Measure A funding from the agency.
  • A dedicated county department under the L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency is slated to open in 2026 to bolster accountability and advance more permanent housing transitions.