Homelessness in Los Angeles County

2020

Los Angeles Almanac Photo.

On June 12, 2020, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued its first release of some 2020 results from the annual homeless count taken earlier in January. The count revealed a 12.7 percent increase in homelessness for Los Angeles County from 2019 to 2020. The city of Los Angeles saw a 14.2 percent increase. Some breakdown data for the city of Los Angeles is still pending release. These additional 2020 data releases will be updated in this page upon release.

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 82,955 people fell into homelessness during 2019. At the same time, in addition to 22,769 people being placed into housing through the county’s homeless services system, an estimated 52,686 people “self-resolved” out of homelessness. On average, 227 people become homeless every day and 207 are able to exit from homelessness. Among the alarming increases among the homeless is the 20 increase in homeless persons over age 62. Youth, from those under the age of 18 through age 24, make up more than 3,000 of the county's homeless population.

Although homeless people may be found throughout the county, the largest concentrations are in the Metro (Central) Los Angeles region (26%), South Los Angeles region (20%) and in the San Fernando Valley region (14%). Most homeless are from the Los Angeles area and stay in or near the communities from which they came. About 6% are veterans. African Americans make up 34% of Los Angeles County's homeless population – a highly disproportionate number as compared to the percentage of the population of African Americans in Los Angeles County overall (about 8 percent).

Other Facts About the 2020 Homeless Population in Los Angeles County:

12% are under age 18.

32% are female.

20% are in family units (often headed by a single mother}.

17% are physically disabled.

38% are chronically homeless.

24% have substance abuse disorders.

22% suffer from serious mental illness.

29% experienced domestic/intimate partner violence.

Homeless Population Counts

By the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Since 2005, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an agency of the City of Los Angeles, has conducted numerical and demographic counts of homelessness, not only within the city of Los Angeles, but throughout Los Angeles County. Over the course of three days in January, this count is conducted with the help of thousands of volunteers branching out throughout Los Angeles County.

Homeless Population Counts in Los Angeles County

All Los Angeles County & City of Los Angeles

Numbers for all Los Angeles County communities are included.

Year City of Los Angeles All Los Angeles County Total Unsheltered Sheltered Total Unsheltered Sheltered 2020 41,290 28,852 12,438 66,436 48,041 18,395 2019 36,300 27,221 8,944 58,936 42,471 13,786 2018 31,285 22,887 8,398 52,765 39,396 13,369 2017 34,189 25,237 8,952 57,794 42,828 14,966 2015 25,686 17,687 7,999 44,359 31,018 13,341 2013 22,993 14,968 8,025 39,463 25,136 14,327 2011 - - - 39,135 20,517 19,176 2009 - - - 38,602 21,073 16,745 2007 - - - 52,956 39,168 13,788 2005 - - - 65,287 53,429 11,858

Homeless Population by Geographic Area

By Service Planning Areas (SPAs)

Numbers include those for Glendale (SPA 2), Long Beach (SPA 8) and Pasadena (SPA 3)

Year Antelope Valley

(SPA 1) San Fernando Valley

(SPA 2) San Gabriel Valley

(SPA 3) Metro LA

(SPA 4) West LA

(SPA 5) South LA

(SPA 6) East LA County

(SPA 7) South Bay/

Harbor

(SPA 8) 2020 4,755 9,277 5,082 17,121 6,009 13,012 4,586 6,594 2019 3,293 7,730 4,489 16,436 5,262 9,543 5,095 4,409 2018 3,203 7,738 4,282 14,218 4,401 8,343 4,569 6,011 2017 4,559 7,459 3,552 15,393 5,511 9,243 5,189 4,282 2015 2,818 5,216 3,093 11,681 4,276 7,513 3,571 3,006 2013 2,113 4,836 2,794 10,472 3,667 7,045 2,429 2,168 2011 1,412 3,720 2,499 10,086 3,512 7,541 3,208 2,644 2009 1,609 3,312 2,780 10,339 3,738 5,504 2,993 2,401 2007 1,238 4,464 6,648 16,109 4,580 7,786 3,806 3,806 2005 2,404 8,051 7,145 14,041 4,773 11,919- 4,982 5,918

Map of Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas

Race/Ethnicity of Homeless

Point-in-Time Count, January 2020, 2019, 2018

Race/Ethnic Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County* 2020 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 American Indian/Alaska Native 430

(1.0%) 530

(1.5%) 324

(1.0%) 686

(1.1%) 975

(1.7%) 565

(1.1%) Asian 502

(1.2%) 299

(0.8%) 352

(1.1%) 774

(1.2%) 455

(0.8%) 545

(1.1%) Black/African American 15,622

(37.8%) 13,629

(37.7%) 12,235

(39.1%) 21,509

(33.8%) 18,719

(33.3%) 17,825

(35.7%) Hispanic/Latino 13,424

(32.5%) 12,403

(34.3%) 10,813

(34.6%) 23,005

(36.1%) 20,523

(36.5%) 17,540

(35.1%) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 76

(0.2%) 100

(0.3%) 77

(0.2%) 205

(0.3%) 314

(0.6%) 221

(0.4%) White 10,293

(24.9%) 8,223

(22.7%) 6,978

(22.3%) 16,208

(25.4%) 13,871

(24.7%) 12,538

(25.1%) Multi-Racial/Other 943

(2.3%) 981

(2.7%) 506

(1.6%) 1,319

(2.1%) 1,400

(2.5%) 721

(1.4%)

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

Age Group of Homeless

Point-in-Time Count, January 2020, 2019, 2018

Age Group/Percentage City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County* 2020 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Under 18 4,923

(11.9%) 3,305

(9.1%) 3,022

(9.7%) 7,491

(0.0%) 5,061

(9.0%) 4,731

(9.5%) 18 - 24 2,910

(7.0%) 2,272

(6.3%) 2,052

(6.6%) 4,181

(6.6%) 3,527

(6.3%) 2,955

(5.9%) 25 - 54 23,479

(56.9%) 21,788

(60.1%) 18,446

(59.0%) 37,138

(58.3%) 24,063

(42.8%) 29,571

(59.2%) 55 - 61 5,898

(14.3%) 5,654

(15.6%) 4,755

(15.2%) 8,606

(13.5%) 8,375

(14.9%) 7,871

(15.8%) 62 and Over 4,080

(9.9%) 3,146

(8.7%) 3,010

(9.6%) 6,290

(9.9%) 5,231

(9.3%) 4,827

(9.7%)

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

Other Characteristics of Homeless

Point-in-Time Count, January 2020, 2019, 2018

Characteristic/Percentage City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County* 2020 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Veterans 2,120

(5.1%) 2,197

(6.1%) 2,048

(6.5%) 3,681

(5.8%) 3,879

(6.9%) 3,886

(7.4%) Chronically Homeless Individuals 14,896

(36.1%) 10,084

(27.9%) 8,360

(26.7%) 23,075

(36.2%) 15,855

(28.2%) 13,559

(25.7%) Chronically Homeless Family Members 867

(2.1%) 632

(1.7%) 278

(0.9%) 1,407

(2.2%) 674

(1.2%) 516

(1.0%) Substance Use Disorder† 10,357

(25.1%) 4,888

(2%) 4,738

(15.1%) 15,203

(27.0%) 7,829

(13.9%) 7,117

(13.5%) Persons with HIV/AIDS† 904

(2.2%) 1,221

(3.4%) 588

(1.9%) 1,165

(2.1%) 1,309

(2.3%) 740

(1.4%) Serious Mental Illness† 9,123

(22.1%) 12,869

(35.6%) 7,843

(25.1%) 14,125

(25.1%) 13,675

(24.3%) 12,748

(24.2%) Physical Disability† 6,955

(16.8%) 6,095

(16.9%) 4,391

(14.0%) 10,833

(19.3%) 9,232

(16.4%) 6,756

(12.8%) Developmental Disability† 4,064

(9.8%) 3,089

(8.5%) 1,764

(5.6%) 5,292

(9.4%) 4,370

(7.8%) 2,530

(4.8%) Domestic Violence Experience† 11,622

(28.1%) 12,860

(35.6%) 9,088

(29.0%) 18,345

(32.6%) 20,265

(36.0%) 13,374

(25.3%) Homeless Due to Fleeing Domestic Violence† 2,741

(6.6%) 1,870

(5.2%) 1,913

(6.1%) 3,884

(6.9%) 3,940

(7.0%) 3,076

(5.8%)

Physical Disability, Developmental Disability, and Domestic Violence Experience. Numbers in these categories do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

* Accumulated numbers for all Service Planning Areas. These do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

† Percentage is prevalence in homeless population age 18 and over.

Homeless Young People

Point-in-Time Count, January 2020, 2019, 2018

Youth Age Group City of Los Angeles All of Los Angeles County* 2020 2019 2018 2020 2019 2018 Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Total 2,083 1,833 1,573 3,029 2,818 2,274 Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Sheltered 613 569 576 1,005 931 864 Transitional Age Youth (18-24): Unsheltered 1,470 1,237 997 2,075 1,887 1,410 Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Total 17 54 58 69 66 63 Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Sheltered 13 21 31 25 21 35 Unaccompanied Minors (Under 18): Unsheltered 4 33 27 44 45 28

* Numbers do not include those for Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

Homeless in Motor Vehicles**

By Service Planning Areas (SPAs)

Point-in-Time Count, January 2020, 2019, 2018