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LA Homeless Count Rises 3.4% — Mayor Blames Funding Cut

7/24/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Mayor Karen Bass announced the homeless count rose 3.4% to 45,194.
Unsheltered homelessness rose 7.9%.
The Continuum of Care recorded a 1.2% countywide increase.
Bass blamed a 50% state HHAP cut—from $1 billion to $500 million, a $70 million loss—and federal policies that raised living costs.
Councilmember Nithya Raman said the results were disappointing and the mayor’s approach “is not working well enough.”

History

Historical Context

In 1987 President Ronald Reagan signed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, allocating $1.2 billion to HUD and establishing the Continuum of Care network. The law responded to a homelessness surge that had nearly doubled between 1984 and 1987 amid Reagan-era housing cuts. Today, Los Angeles County reports a 3.4 % rise to 45,194 homeless people in 2024, underscoring the act’s lasting relevance.

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Story summary

Mayor Karen Bass announced the homeless count rose 3.4% to 45,194.
Unsheltered homelessness rose 7.9%.
The Continuum of Care recorded a 1.2% countywide increase.
Bass blamed a 50% state HHAP cut—from $1 billion to $500 million, a $70 million loss—and federal policies that raised living costs.
Councilmember Nithya Raman said the results were disappointing and the mayor’s approach “is not working well enough.”

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