Today’s show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses homelessness in California, drive-thru bans, growing wolf population, California citrus crate labels, and the best grades to teach.
What can we rethink about state and local policies surrounding homelessness?
The topic:
Background: The mid-2010s saw a rapid increase in homelessness, which became complicated following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a turnaround in both the city and county of Los Angeles, with the L.A. Homeless Services Authority noting a decrease in homelessness in 2024 and 2025.
Homelessness spending: The 2023 fiscal year saw a $5.8 billion investment in homelessness programs by the state of California, which then dropped to $1.7 billion by the 2025 fiscal year.
Improving numbers: In 2025, the state saw unsheltered homelessness drop by 2.8% from the year prior. The number of homeless Californians now sits at a little over 181,000, that’s still more than the over 118,000 who experienced homelessness in 2016…