California reports second consecutive year of decline in unsheltered homelessness

Preliminary estimates indicate that California's unsheltered homelessness has declined for the second consecutive year. According to Governor Gavin Newsom's office, 2026 state data estimates that the state's unsheltered homeless population has dropped by almost 13 percent since 2024.

2026 Preliminary Estimates

According to the Governor's office, the preliminary 2026 results show that unsheltered homelessness across all 44 regions statewide fell an estimated 6.5% compared with reported 2025 figures. Total homelessness also saw a decline of 3.4% in the same period.

These preliminary numbers for 2026 include estimates for areas that did not conduct a new count this year. To reach the statewide estimate, the analysis combines new counts from 37 local reporting regions, known as Continuums of Care, with the last reported unsheltered counts from the seven regions that did not conduct a new count this year. Within those 37 reporting regions, which accounted for nearly 90% of California’s reported unsheltered population in 2025, unsheltered homelessness declined 7.3% compared with their most recent prior counts conducted in 2024 or 2025.

Historical Context and Comparisons

According to the Governor's office, the current unsheltered population is slightly below 2019 levels. The preliminary 2026 results mark the first back-to-back annual declines in both unsheltered and total homelessness since 2013–14. The numerical declines in both measures in 2025 and 2026 are the two largest since 2009.

Regarding national comparisons, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not yet released its 2026 national count. However, according to 2025 federal data from the Trump Administration, California reduced unsheltered homelessness by almost 7% from its 2024 count, which was more than twice the national rate of decline. HUD-confirmed 2025 data showed California's unsheltered homelessness declined 6.77% compared to a 2.88% decline nationwide.

State Initiatives and Efforts

Governor Newsom attributed the declines to several state efforts, including expanding housing and shelter, increasing behavioral health treatment, and connecting people living in encampments with services.

“California is proving that homelessness is not inevitable. We’re making progress because we’re building housing, expanding treatment and shelter, and holding ourselves and local governments accountable. We’re not backing down — and we’re not done," said Newsom.

Other initiatives mentioned by the Governor's office include:

• Behavioral Health: Following the approval of Proposition 1 in 2024, funding is estimated to create at least 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots.
• Encampment Management: The Governor's office noted that since 2021, Caltrans has removed more than 19,000 encampments on state right-of-way and collected approximately 354,000 cubic yards of litter and debris.
• Legal and Structural Reforms: Efforts include updating conservatorship laws and creating a CARE court system for individuals struggling with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

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Sources

• krcrtv.com: Redding Chico Eureka
• gov.ca.gov: HISTORIC TURNAROUND: California’s unsheltered homelessness drops for second consecutive year under Governor Newsom | Governor of California

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.