L.A. Homelessness Soars, Mayor Bass Faces Growing Criticism
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - Mayor Karen Bass is seeking reelection.
Los Angeles Times - City Councilmember Nithya Raman oversees the council’s homelessness committee and is running against Bass.
Los Angeles Times - LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) is involved in the homelessness count.
Los Angeles Times - Political science professor Fernando Guerra heads the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
Los Angeles Times - L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is involved in the discussion regarding homelessness.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - The unsheltered homeless population in Los Angeles increased by 7.9% compared to the previous year.
Los Angeles Times - Overall homelessness, including those in shelters, increased by 3.4% compared to the previous year.
Los Angeles Times - According to the LAHSA count, 45,194 homeless people live in the city of L.A.
Los Angeles Times - The city has reduced unsheltered homelessness by 11% since 2023.
Los Angeles Times - More than 6,000 people have been moved into hotels, motels, and other types of interim housing through the Inside Safe program.
Los Angeles Times - By May 31, 41% of those moved into interim housing had returned to homelessness.
Los Angeles Times - Overall homelessness in the “continuum of care” increased by 1.2% in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles Times - Unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles County increased by 3.5%.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - The events are taking place in Los Angeles, California, and Los Angeles County.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The public release of the homelessness numbers is scheduled for a future date on Friday.
Los Angeles Times - A court hearing regarding LAHSA's lawsuit against the federal government is scheduled for August 6.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - Mayor Bass attributed the increases in homelessness to funding cuts by the state and federal governments and a lack of adequate county services.
Los Angeles Times - City Councilmember Nithya Raman stated that the results indicate a failure of the Mayor's approach to homelessness.
HOW:
Los Angeles Times - LAHSA conducted an annual point-in-time count in January to assess homelessness numbers.
Los Angeles Times - LAHSA has been briefing city and county officials on the homelessness count results.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 05:53 UTC)
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is seeking reelection while facing competition from City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who oversees the council’s homelessness committee. Recent reports show that the unsheltered homeless population in the city has increased by 7.9% compared to last year, with a total of 45,194 homeless individuals counted, even as the city has managed to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 11% since 2023. A public release of the latest homelessness numbers is scheduled for a future date on Friday, and a court hearing regarding LAHSA's lawsuit against the federal government is set for August 6.