LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: A person walks past an encampment of unhoused people in the Skid Row community on June 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that cities can ban people, including those who are homeless, from camping and sleeping outdoors in public places, overturning lower court rulings. Skid Row is home to thousands of people who are either experiencing homelessness on the streets or living in shelters. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Los Angeles, California – A new study by the RAND Corporation released Tuesday reveals a complex and sobering picture of homelessness in Los Angeles. While the total number of unsheltered people in three major neighborhoods—Hollywood, Venice, and Skid Row—declined by 15% in 2024, those who remain are increasingly isolated, exposed, and difficult to reach.
RAND’s LA LEADS study found a 49% drop in unsheltered homelessness in Hollywood and a 22% decrease in Venice, reductions largely attributed to programs like Inside Safe, Mayor Karen Bass’ initiative that relocates encampment residents into motels. However, the number of unsheltered residents in Skid Row—long considered the epicenter of homelessness in Los Angeles—did not change. And across all three neighborhoods, the population has shifted toward those with the most severe needs.
This year, for the first time, there were more “rough sleepers” than tent dwellers—people living without any form of shelter, not even a vehicle or makeshift structure. Rough sleepers made up 42% of the unsheltered population in the study area, up from 30% in 2021. In Hollywood and Venice, the number of rough sleepers more than doubled in just a year.
“These are people with no shelter, the highest health risks, and the most social isolation,” said lead researcher Louis Abramson. “They’re the hardest to find, the hardest to serve, and now they’re more spread out across the city, which stretches outreach workers thin.”
RAND’s study also highlighted a major discrepancy with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) annual count. In Venice, LAHSA counted 173 people and dwellings. RAND found 554. This divergence calls into question not only the accuracy of current counts but also the decisions based on them. RAND warns that such undercounts could distort policymaking, leading to missed opportunities or misallocated resources.
While 91% of respondents said they wanted housing, only 13% reported receiving an offer. Many cited barriers like being separated from partners or pets, losing their possessions, or being relocated to unfamiliar neighborhoods. Even as overall numbers declined, those remaining are often left behind by existing strategies.
The findings arrive just as Los Angeles County prepares to launch its first Department of Homeless Services and Housing. The county’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the creation of the new agency following years of criticism aimed at LAHSA, including failed audits and concerns over how billions in taxpayer dollars were tracked.
Supervisors have not yet publicly named the department’s inaugural director, but the role is expected to oversee the transition of nearly $350 million in funding and lead a broader reimagining of the region’s approach to homelessness.
While the numbers may suggest progress on the surface, RAND’s data reveals a deeper truth: Los Angeles may be moving people off the streets, but it has yet to fully confront the challenges facing those left behind.
