California Homeless Camp Cleanups Had No Long-Term Reduction

In Los Angeles County, California, efforts to clear homeless encampments in three neighborhoods had no long-term effect on reducing the number of unsheltered (no tent or vehicle) homeless individuals in the neighborhoods. The trends pertain to tent encampments in Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice. In these three neighborhoods, the number of unsheltered residents increased by 10% per year from late September 2021 through 2022; there was no increase during 2023. In areas where the county cleared homeless tent encampments, there was a temporary decline in the unsheltered population, but the decline lasted only two to three months. However, in . . .