Skid Row is buckling once more, and the brand new numbers strike on the coronary heart of Los Angeles’ greatest political promise.
New homeless rely figures present Skid Row’s homeless inhabitants surged 23% in only one yr, including 907 extra individuals. Based on the 2026 Higher Los Angeles Homeless Rely, 4,892 individuals have been residing in Skid Row this yr, up from 3,985 in 2025.
The rise ranks among the many largest wherever in Los Angeles, and marks a significant setback within the neighborhood that has lengthy been the epicenter of the town’s homelessness disaster.
For longtime Skid Row resident and U.S. Marine veteran Don Garza, the numbers merely verify what he has witnessed each day.
Garza mentioned many Angelenos consider homelessness is bettering as a result of repeated encampment sweeps have eliminated tents from sidewalks.
“The town turns round and says, ‘Look, there’s no tents,’” Garza mentioned. “‘So we cleaned all the pieces up,’ and everyone buys it.”
“Nevertheless it’s nonetheless homelessness.”
Garza mentioned Skid Row stays the middle of the area’s homelessness system, drawing individuals each day for meals, outreach, medical care and different providers earlier than many disperse into neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.
“They arrive right here, they get no matter they will. Then, earlier than it will get darkish, all of them scatter out throughout the town,” Garza mentioned.
The funding has been substantial.
Los Angeles not too long ago elevated funding for Skid Row housing operations to $11.3 million by means of state homelessness grants, whereas the county’s $280 million Skid Row Motion Plan is increasing housing, behavioral well being providers and a brand new care campus within the neighborhood.
A number of city-funded outreach groups are additionally assigned solely to Skid Row to attach individuals with shelter, housing and remedy providers.
The rise comes about 18 months after Councilmember Ysabel Jurado took workplace representing Downtown Los Angeles, together with Skid Row.
Backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, Jurado campaigned on increasing inexpensive housing, stopping displacement and addressing the basis causes of homelessness.
Since taking workplace, Jurado’s district has obtained the most important share of inexpensive housing funding from the town’s Measure ULA mansion tax program, with greater than 1,700 inexpensive housing items deliberate throughout 25 tasks.
The rise additionally reversed three consecutive years of declining homeless counts below former Councilmember Kevin de León, who made Skid Row the centerpiece of coordinated encampment cleanups, outreach efforts and housing placements.
Paul Webster, govt director of the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which is suing the town and county over the homelessness disaster, mentioned Thursday the newest figures present Los Angeles continues spending extra whereas struggling to measure what is definitely working.
“The rise in LA homelessness counts isn’t any shock,” Webster instructed The California Publish on Thursday. “In LA, regardless of more cash, extra capability, and extra consideration than ever, nobody is aware of what causes homelessness to extend or lower.”
