California Reverses Decades of Inaction on Homelessness

Strategic Insights -

California is making significant progress in addressing its homelessness crisis, with preliminary data for 2025 showing a decrease in homelessness in local communities. The state has been outperforming the nation in slowing down the increase in homelessness, according to the 2024 point-in-time count. Governor Gavin Newsom has been a key driver of this progress, supporting local government efforts and state investments to address the crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • California outperformed the nation in slowing down the increase in homelessness in 2024, with its unsheltered homelessness remaining nearly flat, increasing by only 0.45%, while the nation's unsheltered homelessness increased by nearly 7%.
  • Preliminary data for 2025 points to a decrease in homelessness in many communities across California, with communities like San Diego, Riverside, and Los Angeles showing significant reductions in unsheltered homelessness.
  • San Diego saw a 3.9% decrease in unsheltered homelessness, while the city's total homelessness decreased by 13.5%.
  • Riverside County reported a 19% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
  • Los Angeles County is expected to report a 4% decrease in total homelessness, and a 9.5% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
  • The Newsom administration has made significant progress in reversing decades of inaction on homelessness, with California slowing the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%.
  • California has achieved the nation's largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing youth homelessness.

Statistics:

  • 0.45%: the rate at which California's unsheltered homelessness increased in 2024, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%.
  • 37,000: the number of people who experienced new homelessness in California between 2014 and 2019.
  • 3%: the overall increase in homelessness in California in 2024.
  • 40: the number of states that saw a higher increase in homelessness than California in 2024.
  • 7.9%: the decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the city of Los Angeles.
  • 4%: the expected decrease in total homelessness in Los Angeles County.
  • 9.5%: the expected decrease in unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles County.
  • 10.2%: the decrease in total homelessness in San Bernardino County.
  • 7%: the decrease in homeless population in San Diego County.

Sources:

  • [www.contify.com/article/california-reverses-decades-inaction-homelessness](http://www.contify.com/article/california-reverses-decades-inaction-homelessness)
  • [www.californiaviewpoint.com/california-reverses-decades-inaction-homelessness](http://www.californiaviewpoint.com/california-reverses-decades-inaction-homelessness)