Spokane, Los Angeles Homelessness Declines Second Consecutive Year

The 2025 Point-in-Time counts in both Spokane County and Los Angeles County show a second consecutive year of overall declines in homelessness, signaling progress in addressing the crisis. Spokane County's count surveyed 1,806 individuals and reported a 10.6% decrease in homelessness overall, with a drop in sheltered homelessness but an increase in unsheltered individuals, partly due to new survey methodologies and shelter closures. Mayor Lisa Brown credited her administration's focus on treatment, case management, and scattered shelter sites for the positive trend. Similarly, Los Angeles County recorded a 4% decline in homelessness, including a 10% decrease in unsheltered populations, with city officials attributing this to increased housing placements, encampment clearings, and emergency shelter expansions. Mayor Karen Bass emphasized that these declines represent thousands of people moving indoors and improving neighborhood conditions, though officials acknowledge the crisis remains unresolved. Both regions highlight that continued targeted efforts and resource allocation are essential to sustain and build on these reductions.