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…