Homelessness Watch
News and Updates
April 2025
A new program trains college students for jobs helping homeless Californians. Can it survive?
Santa Monica College launched California’s first community college program to train workers for homeless services, aiming to address a growing workforce shortage in a field plagued by high turnover, low pay, and burnout. Despite its promise, the program faces uncertain funding, high attrition, and instability at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which partnered in the effort. Only half of the initial 27 students remain, many dropping out due to personal hardships and logistical challenges. While some students like see great value in the training, the low wages and lack of systemic support cast doubt on whether the program—and the career path—can be sustained long-term.
March 2025
Seniors in Southern Oregon, Northern California are being priced out and ending up homeless
Older adults are increasingly becoming homeless for the first time, often after life disruptions like illness, job loss, or the death of a spouse. Many worked physically demanding jobs but lacked savings. Nearly 20% of the U.S. homeless population is now 55 or older, facing severe health risks and limited housing options. Programs like Hearts for Seniors help prevent evictions, but there aren’t enough resources to meet the growing need. Advocates warn that many seniors will die prematurely without stable housing.
February 2025
https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/02/california-homeless-encampment-sweeps/
Eight months after the Supreme Court's Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling allowed cities to clear homeless encampments even without available shelter, places like San Francisco, San Diego, and Fresno ramped up sweeps. While aimed at improving public safety, the crackdowns have displaced unhoused people, disrupted support services, and led to the loss of vital belongings. Many avoid shelters due to safety concerns or restrictive rules. Some cities offer “Safe Sleeping” sites, but options remain limited. Despite frequent enforcement, most people remain unsheltered, constantly moving.
January 2025
https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/02/california-homeless-encampment-sweeps/
In 2024, California had 187,084 homeless individuals—28% of the U.S. total—with 66% living unsheltered. While national homelessness rose 18%, California’s increase was 3%. The state saw the largest reductions in veteran (down 1,279) and youth homelessness (down 1,121), credited to Housing First (immediate housing without preconditions). Still, chronic homelessness affected over 66,000 Californians, and family homelessness rose slightly. Unaccompanied youth and veterans remain heavily unsheltered, at 60% and 69% respectively.
December 2024
HUD Releases 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report revealed an 18% increase in homelessness from 2023, marking the highest number recorded since reporting began in 2007, with approximately 770,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night. The rise affected nearly all demographic groups—including individuals, families with children, youth, seniors, and people of color—with family homelessness increasing by 39% and chronic homelessness by 16%. While 64% of homeless individuals were sheltered, 36% remained unsheltered, often in places unfit for habitation. The only group to see improvement was veterans, whose homelessness rates declined due to targeted funding. The report attributes the overall surge to the ongoing affordable housing crisis, stagnant wages, inflation, expiration of pandemic-era support, and increased impacts from natural disasters and immigration.
November 2024
LA County voters passed Measure A, which replaces the current sales tax for homelessness with a permanent half-cent tax, expected to raise $1 billion a year. This funding will support homeless services, including mental health and addiction treatment, and help build affordable housing. The money will be managed by LA County and local agencies, with strong oversight to ensure transparency and accountability, starting in April 2025.
October 2024
Anaheim will ban homeless from occupying sidewalks, bus benches
Anaheim City Council has voted to prohibit individuals from sleeping or storing their belongings in public spaces, including sidewalks and bus benches. Currently, the homeless population numbers over 1,400 in Anaheim.
September 2024
In the U.S.,around 700,000 students aged 13-17 are affected by housing instability. However, schools often lack the resources and staff to address these issues effectively. Experts recommend that schools implement universal screening for homelessness risk factors and hire more social workers to connect students with essential services.