California counties report declines in homeless populations

Preliminary 2026 data indicates that several California counties are reporting declines in their homeless populations, following a reduction in official counts in 2025. Of the 28 counties or continuums of care that released data, more than half reported a decrease.

Significant reductions were noted in San Joaquin County, which saw its total unhoused population drop by nearly one-third compared to 2024 and a near 50% decrease in people sleeping on streets without shelter. Alameda County reported a 13% drop, while San Francisco saw a more modest 4% decline.

Local officials attribute these improvements to increased availability of shelter beds and low-income housing, supported by state funding released in recent years. However, some activists express skepticism regarding the accuracy of the data. They suggest that increased enforcement, such as clearing encampments and issuing citations for illegal camping, may simply be dispersing unhoused individuals, making them harder to count without necessarily moving them into permanent housing. Additionally, officials expressed concern regarding the sustainability of these gains in light of potential federal cuts to social services and Medi-Cal.