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Authorities reported a substantial reduction in unsheltered homelessness across Los Angeles County on July 14, with officials crediting coordinated efforts to move people indoors.
"Reducing homelessness is now a trend in LA City and county," said Paul Rubenstein, LAHSA's deputy chief external relations officer. "Our leaders came together to bring people inside and their efforts are paying off."
The agency's February tally recorded 72,308 people living outdoors across the region, representing a reduction of roughly 4% from 2024 levels, according to the L.A.Times.
The improvements follow intensive encampment clearing operations paired with immediate housing offers. Karen Bass, Mayor of L.A., launched her Inside Safe program while county officials implemented Pathway Home, both of which were designed to transition people from the streets to shelters rapidly.
According to Bass, the consecutive annual decreases represent an unprecedented achievement, as homeless counting has been conducted for decades.
"Homelessness has gone down two years in a row because we chose to act with urgency and reject the broken status quo of leaving people on the street until housing was built," Bass said.
The strategy has shifted the composition of the homeless population. Temporary shelter occupancy jumped more than 8.5% countywide and nearly 4.7% citywide.
LAHSA documented an increase in success moving people to permanent residences, with 11,146 individuals transitioning from interim arrangements last year. This represented a nearly 23.5% increase over 2023 placements.
Researchers conducted the census in February, deploying volunteers to catalog outdoor sleepers and document makeshift accommodations, including tents, vehicles, and improvised structures.
Housing professionals note significant obstacles when moving individuals from temporary shelters into stable residences. Research from the Coalition for the Homeless indicates that complex approval procedures, property owner reluctance, and an insufficient number of affordable units limit successful placements.
According to National Institutes of Health research, maintaining housing stability proves difficult without comprehensive support systems, particularly for individuals with chronic homelessness histories who need expanded assistance beyond current resource allocations.
Collaborative approaches involving multiple sectors can enhance the effectiveness of homeless intervention. Studies indicate that programs incorporating community member participation and cross-sector coordination achieve better results, including decreased housing instability and improved long-term outcomes.
Budget constraints threaten continued progress. Federal housing assistance faces potential cuts under the Trump administration, while state and local governments have already reduced funding for homeless services amid fiscal pressures.
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath acknowledged the positive trend but emphasized the need for accelerated action, citing plans for a restructured county department following audits that identified management deficiencies at LAHSA.
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