LOS ANGELES – Leaders from across Los Angeles County gathered Tuesday night to launch the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, a critical annual effort to understand the scope and nature of homelessness across the region and guide life-saving policy and funding decisions.
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is the largest unsheltered point-in-time count in the nation and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for continuums of care across the country. Thousands of volunteers will fan out throughout LA County over three nights to ensure every person experiencing homelessness is counted.
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Interim CEO Gita O’Neill was joined by Councilmember Nithya Raman, LAHSA Commission Chair Amber Sheikh, CEO of Inner City Law Center, Adam Murray, Daniella Urbina from Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office, and Lived Experience Advisory Board Treasurer Martin Holguin, to mark the start of the count and encourage the public to participate.
“This year’s Homeless Count comes at a pivotal moment for our region,” said LAHSA Interim CEO Gita O’Neill. “Across Los Angeles, the homeless services system is undergoing major changes, from funding shifts and program transitions to the way outreach, shelter, and housing are delivered. Those changes, combined with ongoing economic pressures, may put the progress we’ve made over the last couple of years at risk. That’s why, at this moment, what matters most is that we get an accurate picture of what our neighbors are experiencing so we can respond with urgency, honesty, and the right resources in the right places.”
The Homeless Count provides essential data that determines how federal, state, and local funding are distributed for housing, shelter, outreach, and supportive services. The information collected helps identify trends, evaluate the impact of past investments, and guide where resources are needed the most.
"The Homeless Count is a critical tool for understanding homelessness across Los Angeles County and for ensuring our response is rooted in equity. Reliable data allows us to direct housing, health care, and supportive services to the communities that need them most and to measure whether our investments are truly making a difference. It also helps to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses by guiding resources to reduce encampments, improve safety, and restore public spaces,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor, Hilda L. Solis. “When we count every person, we strengthen accountability and affirm the dignity of our unhoused neighbors. I am deeply grateful to the volunteers, outreach workers, and community partners whose commitment makes this effort possible and moves our County closer to lasting solutions."
“This year’s homeless count is more important than ever. With looming funding cuts at all levels of government, this will give us critically needed data to allow us to advocate effectively,” said Amber Sheikh, Chair of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission. “And I am so often asked what the average person can do to help - there’s no better way than this.”
“The Los Angeles Point-in-Time Count is a critical tool for understanding the scope and urgency of homelessness in our city,” said Adam Murray, CEO of Inner City Law Center. “Accurate data helps ensure resources are directed where they are needed most and informs policies that can prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place. Inner City Law Center is proud to participate in this year's count, serving as a volunteer deployment site for the second year in a row. We stand alongside community partners and volunteers who are committed to fighting homelessness in Los Angeles.”
This year’s Homeless Count reflects a system that is evolving to deliver more precise data and a better volunteer experience. Building on last year’s fully digital count, LAHSA has improved mapping tools, simplified training, and expanded on-site staffing at deployment locations to help volunteers move quickly and confidently through their assignments. The agency is also working with County partners and providers to strengthen counting in hard-to-reach areas and improve how data on youth and sheltered homelessness is collected and reviewed, ensuring decision-makers have the clearest possible picture of need across the region.
The 2026 Homeless Count is taking place during a period of significant transition for the region’s homelessness response system. As programs, funding streams, and service models shift, the data collected this week will be especially important in helping leaders understand where needs are emerging and how to adapt strategies in the year ahead.
Tuesday night was the first night of the count, where volunteers canvassed the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys (SPA 2) and Metro Los Angeles (SPA 4). The Homeless Count will continue on Wednesday in the areas of San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3) and East Los Angeles (SPA 7); and on Thursday across Antelope Valley (SPA 1), West Los Angeles (SPA 5), South Los Angeles (SPA 6), and South Bay/Harbor (SPA 8). LAHSA is still seeking volunteers to help ensure every community is covered. Residents can sign up and find their nearest deployment site at https://www.theycountwillyou.org/.
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