Federal Homelessness Count Delayed, Undermining Funding Decisions

HUD’s 2025 point-in-time homelessness report, usually released in December, remains unpublished in May 2026, a five-month delay that stalls the data used for federal and state funding decisions and a key barometer for tracking the homelessness crisis.

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Since the early 2000s, HUD requires each Continuum of Care—a county-city coalition—to conduct a census of sheltered and unsheltered persons over one or two days in January, then submit the data for national aggregation.

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California’s 2026 count, using 30 continuums that surveyed street homelessness in 2025, shows a 4 % decline and a 9 % drop in people sleeping outdoors; 14 continuums counted in 2024 are excluded, and no demographic data are provided.

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Critics say Trump administration delayed the report to hide California’s housing-first success, has tried to shift homelessness funds to shelters, and seeks to end housing-first by withholding housing until enrollment in addiction treatment. Nineteen states, including California, sued; a judge temporarily blocked the redirection.

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HUD declined comment. Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos called missing data “perplexing.” National Homelessness Law Center’s Jesse Rabinowitz called the delay “a big deal.” Alex Visotzky, senior California policy fellow of National Alliance to End Homelessness noted “headwinds” and praised investments.

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The 2024 national count recorded 771,480 homeless individuals, an 18 % rise. The New York Times reported declines in several cities, hinting at a first nationwide drop in eight years. The 2025 HUD report blocks verification, and California’s data omit race, age, and mental-health details.

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California accounts for roughly 25 % of U.S. homelessness—over 187,000 people in 2024—so any state-level decline lowers the national total. Funding formulas, evaluations, and congressional oversight depend on the point-in-time report, so its delay creates uncertainty for providers.

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• “It’s a big deal,” — Jesse Rabinowitz, spokesperson, National Homelessness Law Center

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• “It is perplexing that HUD has not released this information,” — Tara Gallegos, spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom

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• “Perhaps the Trump administration is afraid to release clear data that demonstrates California’s strategies for addressing this issue are actually extremely effective.” — Tara Gallegos, spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom

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• “but the investments to build up the response to homelessness have made a really big difference and are moving people out of homelessness faster than ever before.” — Alex Visotzky, senior California policy fellow, National Alliance to End Homelessness

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HUD is expected to release the 2025 point-in-time report later in 2026, after which federal homelessness funding for FY 2027 will be set. Litigation over the administration’s funding changes continues.

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