Los Angeles, CA – While Los Angeles County and city officials celebrated a reported decrease in overall homelessness in July 2025, data reviewed by LAist reveals a significant and concerning increase in the number of unsheltered children and families. This divergence highlights persistent challenges within the broader effort to address the region's homelessness crisis.
"Over the last two years, our leaders came together to bring people inside, and their efforts have paid off," stated Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who led the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) until recently, in an announcement touting the count results as a "win." However, the official statement notably omitted any mention of the worsening situation for families and children.
According to the data, the number of unsheltered children and teens under 18 in Los Angeles County surged by nearly 22% this year compared to 2024, rising from 1,558 to 1,897. The number of unsheltered families with children also increased by 18%, from 903 to 1,067. The total number of families with children, encompassing both sheltered and unsheltered populations, saw a 6% rise, from 3,520 to 3,728.
These figures contrast with LAHSA's broader 2025 report, which indicated a 4.0% decrease in the total homeless population across Los Angeles County, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Unsheltered homelessness in the county reportedly dropped by 9.5% from 2024 to 2025. Mayor Karen Bass noted that "homelessness has gone down two years in a row because we chose to act with urgency."
Despite the overall positive trend, the increase in unsheltered families underscores a critical area where progress remains elusive. LAHSA has stated that the increases in family homelessness are not "statistically significant," yet the data clearly shows no improvement in reducing child homelessness. Service providers on the ground, such as Kelvin Driscoll of HOPICS, have observed a growing need among families, including two-parent households, and highlight the complexities of finding suitable placements for larger family units.
The ongoing challenges for families persist amidst billions of dollars spent on homelessness initiatives in Los Angeles County over recent years. Experts point to the lack of affordable housing as a primary driver of first-time homelessness, suggesting that systemic issues continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations like families with children, even as overall numbers show improvement.