Los Angeles is grappling with a 3.4% increase in homelessness, with the total number of people without stable shelter rising to 45,194. This uptick comes after two years of declines under Mayor Karen Bass‘s administration. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is set to officially announce these findings at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 24.

The increase is primarily driven by a 7.9% rise in unsheltered homelessness which includes individuals living in tents, makeshift lean-tos, and vehicles. This trend is part of a broader challenge across much of Los Angeles County, excluding Pasadena, Long Beach, and Glendale, which have their own systems in place.

Mayor Bass Addresses the Rise in Homelessness

Mayor Karen Bass has acknowledged the increase in the city’s unhoused population, attributing it to state funding cuts and federal policy changes. She highlighted the reduction in the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) grant program as a significant concern. Bass also pointed to the Trump administration’s policies, which she believes have driven up the cost of living and slashed critical safety net funding.

“For two years straight, we drove down homelessness by historic margins — but as expected, last year our efforts ultimately couldn’t keep up with policies and funding cuts at the federal and state levels that pushed more people onto the streets,” Bass stated. She emphasized that the lack of adequate services provided by Los Angeles County continues to be a real problem.

The Significance of the Homeless Count

The annual homeless count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides a crucial snapshot of the homeless population. This data helps local officials gauge year-to-year fluctuations and assists the federal government in determining the allocation of millions of dollars in homelessness grants.

In 2026, the city and county saw declines in homelessness, with the city’s population dropping by 3.4% and the county’s by 4%. Unsheltered homelessness also decreased by 7.9%. These declines were smaller in 2026 and within the count’s margin of error. Mayor Bass has been touting these declines in her reelection campaign this year, facing City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who chairs L.A.’s housing and homelessness committee.

Delays in Data Release and Audits

LAHSA conducted the count in January and initially planned to release the results in late spring or early summer. However, the release was delayed slightly this year as LAHSA officials opted to wait for a federal review of the data. The agency typically releases past homeless count findings in June.

Additionally, LAHSA has faced challenges with internal audits. The agency has not completed any internal audits in years, and one that was started two years ago remains incomplete due to management delays in providing responses. Erum Shahnawaz, LAHSA’s chief internal auditor, highlighted the lack of response from LAHSA management at a recent meeting of the agency’s audit committee.

“We haven’t gotten anything,” Shahnawaz said, referring to the lack of response from LAHSA management. “That’s the only thing that’s holding us from issuing the final report.” The delayed audit is examining why LAHSA failed to spend $7 million in federal dollars granted to house and serve people in need.

LAHSA Commissioner Justin Szlasa, who chairs the commission’s audit committee, has repeatedly called out LAHSA executives’ delays in providing information about taxpayer spending. He emphasized the importance of timely internal audits to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure accountability.

“We haven’t had a single internal audit completed here in the last couple of years, which is nuts,” Szlasa said. He called for internal audits to happen much more frequently and suggested publishing the audit results without management responses if necessary.

LAHSA’s leadership has downsized the internal audit team, dropping from a staff of three to just one in the agency’s proposed budget up for approval. This downsizing raises concerns about the agency’s ability to conduct thorough and timely audits in the future.