California reports one of largest drops in homelessness in past year, Hud reports
New data suggests success in Gavin Newsom’s crackdown, as Illinois, Hawaii and Florida also report notable decreases
TL;DR
- California reported a nearly 3% decrease in its unhoused population in 2025, with 181,934 individuals recorded.
- This decrease places California among the top five states with the largest reductions, alongside Illinois, Hawaii, Florida, and New York.
- Nationally, the homeless population decreased by 3% from 2024, marking the first decline since 2016.
- The Trump administration downplayed the decrease, attributing it partly to reduced homelessness in 'Sanctuary Cities' and emphasizing a long-term increase since 2013.
- Advocates noted the success of programs like the Emergency Housing Voucher program but expressed concern that Trump administration policies, including proposed cuts to housing programs, could reverse progress.