What you need to know:
California’s homelessness plummeted in 2025 — with the largest drop in 15 years — according to preliminary data, due to Governor Newsom’s strategies to reduce homelessness, address encampments, and create shelter and support. Data from California communities reporting 2025 numbers show a 9% drop in unsheltered homelessness, bucking national trends by getting people off the streets and into safe shelter and care.
January 11, 2026 – SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom’s ambitious efforts to address the decades-long homelessness crisis have made California a leader in reducing its growth. As a result, California’s homelessness numbers have decreased by the largest amount in more than 15 years, based on currently available data, with unsheltered homelessness dropping by roughly 9% in regions reporting 2025 numbers. These preliminary annual point-in-time counts, calculated using data reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), show that Governor Newsom’s strategies to help more people access shelter and address encampments are effective in reducing homelessness…