Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published September 20, 2024 5:00 AM
Bacon-wrapped hot dog with the works might as well be the mascot of L.A. hot dog culture
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Kirk McKoy
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Getty Images
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Topline:
A recent visit to Chicago reminded LAist food editor Gab Chabrán how much he loves hot dogs. However, Los Angeles has its own style, with hot dogs that reflect the region’s global palate. Here are some of his hometown favorites.
Why it matters: Because while standard hot dogs are everywhere in the city, you can find places serving up quality dogs with unexpected flavors and a side of quirky LA history. You just need to know where to look.
Why now: Because when our food editor tried Chicago's storied hot dogs, he was reminded of L.A.'s glorious dogs, and their perfect mishmash of cultural influences.
Earlier this year, I took my first trip to Chicago, and while I was there decided to try as many hot dogs as possible. (It's important to have goals, I know.)
I was in hot dog heaven. The Chicago dog (sports peppers, neon green relish, celery salt). The Depression dog (Chicago dog wrapped with hand-cut french fries from Red Hot Ranch). The Maxwell Street Polish, (kielbasa with grilled onions and mustard). I even made a pilgrimage to Jim’s Original, said to be one of the originators of the dog style, and it didn’t disappoint.
But something occurred to me as I was downing dogs left and right. The different iterations gave me a window into the neighborhoods and communities from which they originate.
Los Angeles, of course, is no different.
A Maxwell Street Polish from Jim's Original in Chicago
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Gab Chabrán
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So when How To L.A. host Brian De Los Santos approached me about exploring hot dogs in L.A., it was the perfect opportunity to discuss the city's hometown varieties, from immigrant enclaves to crazy culinary combos to old-school walk-up counter joints serving the same recipes for over half a century.
Here’s a list of my favorite L.A. accented hot dogs. No Pinks or Dodgers Dogs here — sorry if you’re a fan. This is my gut-check pick of the places that make this city special.
The bacon-wrapped hot dog
Bacon-wrapped hot dog reigns supreme on the street of L.A.
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Lindsay William-Ross
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Attend any large-scale concert or sporting event in L.A., say the Crypto Arena or the Hollywood Bowl, and chances are someone will be selling a bacon-wrapped hot dog nearby.
Swaddled in bacon and showered with grilled onions and jalapeño, it's topped with obscene globs of ketchup, yellow mustard, and mayo. The spicy, creamy, and salty deluge of flavor is a mouthful but also feels like a rite of passage for becoming an Angeleno.
Where did bacon-wrapped hot dogs originate from? All signs point to Sonoran-style dogs (or “dogos” as they are also known) found in the state of Sonora in Mexico. The dish first jumped the border in Tucson, Arizona, and eventually arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Where to find the best one? That’s a little hard to say as they are omnipresent (with or without a vendor license). So next time you're at an event, follow the smell of bacon to the nearest street corner and bask in their caloric beauty. Maybe this one will be the best ever. At least for you.
Oki Dog
Behold the Oki Dog! Made with two sliced hot dogs, pastrami, chili, and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla
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Victoria Alejandro
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What do you get when you mash up a whole bunch of cultural influences during the birth of punk rock in Los Angeles? You get Oki Dog.
The original Oki Dog location was in West Hollywood, smack dab in the middle of nightclubs hosting up-and-coming punk bands in the 1970s and 1980s, making it a natural destination for club-goers.
The Oki Dog is two hot dogs filled with chili, thin ribbons of pastrami, and American cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
Sakai "Jimmy" Sueyoshi originally created it, drawing on his roots in Okinawa, Japan. The area is known for its jumble of cuisines since it's situated near China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It has also been home to a large American military base since WW II. (Taco rice, anyone?)
Oki Dog's on Pico Boulevard, an American Classic
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Victoria Alejandro
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The original location was forced to move because of community complaints (amped-up hungry punk rockers can be a little, um, unruly), ending up at its Fairfax location in Hollywood. While that closed in August, the location on Pico Blvd remains and still serves Oki Dogs.
The original locale still inspires musical tributes. Check out Youth Of Today and, more recently, hip-hop MC Murs.
Location: 4601 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Earle's On Crenshaw
A chicken sausage hot dog topped with chili on a whole wheat bun from Earle's Grill
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Gab Chabrán
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Earle’s immediately oozes a strong sense of love and warmth when you enter the restaurant. The menu itself is simple, with options that include beef and turkey dogs, chicken links, veggie dogs, and a variety of solid toppings including ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, tartar sauce, or their delightful chili to name a few.
With a choice of white or wheat bun, it almost feels like you're making a health-conscious decision, which feels like they care about your well-being. I opted for the chicken link, which arrived with a split through the dog filled with mustard, onion, relish and then topped with the chili. It feels like it's made with attentiveness, with that perfect snap on the first bite, the mark of a quality dog.
This Black-owned business aims to serve its Crenshaw community wholeheartedly. Started by brothers Cary and Duane Earle, who originally hailed from New York, they’ve solidified themselves as an L.A. institution since the early '90s, beginning with a hot dog cart. It’s common to see their mother, affectionately known as Mama Earle, helping at the restaurant, speaking with customers, and even cuddling the occasional baby.
Location: 3864 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Two Hands Corn Dogs
L to R: Two Hands Dog, Spicy Dog, and Potato Dog along with kimchi fries at Two Hands in Koreatown.
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Sure, we’ve all had a corn dog before, but more recently, Korean-style corn dogs have begun to inhabit our shores, creating a stir with their distinct textures.
The Two Hands establishment is a perfect example, poised for world domination as the chain catches on in shopping mall-like spaces throughout SoCal.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of options at Two Hands. First, select the outer toppings: standouts include the Two Hands dog with sweet ranch sauce or the Spicy Dog featuring a combination of spicy sauce and hot Cheetos powder. Then, pick the contents of your dog, which include half a hot dog, half mozzarella cheese, a spicy hot dog, and a plant-based option.
Patrons wait to order at Two Hands on the roof of California Marketplace in Koreatown.
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The Korean-style corn dog turns all previous notions of corn dogs on their heads. First, biting into the heavily battered dog, you’ll be immediately taken by its sweet flavoring and unique texture. Try the potato dog with an encrusted layer of fried potato cubes, topped with a tangy sauce and dusted with Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning, or the Injeolmi, made with pounded glutinous rice and drizzled with condensed milk.
Two Hand locations can be found all over Southern California. There’s a good chance there’s one near you; plan a trip and prepare to be amazed by the world of the Korean corn dog.
Locations: across SoCal Hours: check here for hours of individual stores
Cupid's Hot Dogs
Cupid's Dog with cheese and the Chicago dog at Cupid's Hot Dogs.
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Brian Feinzimer
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This hot dog stand brims with retro charm with its mid-century design and walk-up window ordering system. It’s just the type of throwback that we can never get enough of.
Cupid's Hot Dogs in the Valley has delighted locals for nearly 80 years, owned and operated by the Walsh family. It's currently run by sisters Morgan and Kelly Walsh, who took over from their father, Rick, who took over from his parents, Richard and Bernice Walsh, who started the business in 1946.
The Cupid Dog features an all-beef hot dog with a natural casing, topped with their signature chili, made with finely ground beef swimming in a velvety sauce, no beans. It provides an exquisite topping for the dog under a thin drizzle of yellow mustard and finely diced white onions. I suggest adding grated cheese for that hint of sharpness to the flavor profile.
Cupid's Hot Dogs
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Brian Feinzimer
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Given that each dog costs a little over $5, you might have room in the budget for a second. The menu is tight, with only about five options to choose from, so go for the Chicago Dog.
Cupid's take on this Midwestern favorite is accurate, minus the poppy seed bun. However, the fresh-tasting toppings, such as the tangy tomatoes and onions with the spicey brine of the neon green relish, sport peppers, pickles, and sprinkling of celery salt, are so transformative you'll barely miss the bun itself. Wash down your two hot dogs with “a shot” of a fountain soda of your choice (.99 cents) and revel in the glory of one of the Valley's most iconic bites.
Location: 20030 Vanowen St., Winnetka Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: 2585 Cochran St. Simi Valley Hours: Open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: 5000 Birch St. Suite 150 Newport Beach Hours: Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Yama Sushi Marketplace locations will host a rotating lineup of Asian-owned brands through the end of the month.
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Gab Chabrán
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In this edition:
Stroll the Balboa Island Art Walk, play Ryan Adams’ pinball machines, read kids' books to trees and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
Is there a more idyllic corner of SoCal than Balboa Island? Stroll the promenade and enjoy the art and the views at the 31st annual Balboa Island Art Walk. There’s live music and more than 90 artists showing their work with an ocean backdrop.
Head down to Anaheim to check out (and maybe bid on) your next game room addition. Ryan Adams — yep, that’s the one, former Mr. Mandy Moore and indie rocker royalty of the early 2000s — is apparently a big arcade collector, and he’s auctioning off much of his collection. There’s a wide range of arcade games and pinball machines on view to the public, plus opportunities to play, meet collectors and see the warehouse.
The John Rowland Mansion is the oldest extant brick building in Southern California, and has a unique history that the House Museum has recently been instrumental in preserving. Spend some time at the Greek revival building with the whole family for The Giving Trees, a reading of children’s books to trees (with gratitude to Shel Silverstein!) in the garden at the permanent installation Let’s Make a Garden From Old Wounds.
So many of us have stories about secret shows, celeb sightings and special guests showing up at the intimate Hotel Cafe over the past 26 years. The venue’s Instagram has a bevy of famous well-wishers popping into the chat. So it’s truly the end of an era as the iconic night spot hosts its final shows at the Cahuenga location, wrapping things up with a party called Last Dance at the Hotel Cafe featuring Sara Bareilles and many more on Friday.
But if you can’t score a ticket, fear not, because there’s plenty more music on the agenda for this weekend. Licorice Pizza’s Lyndsey Parker recommends Friday shows St. Lucia at the Fonda; Santigold at the Bellwether; Alejandro Sanz at the Greek; and Desert Daze’s Microdazing at the Bellwether, featuring various DJs, including KCRW’s Travis Holcombe and Beastie Boys producer Mario C. Saturday, Demi Lovato is at the Forum, friend-of-LAist Flea plays the Fonda and the big Japanese music festival Zipangu is at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, featuring Atarashii Gakko!, Ado and many more. And on Sunday, Echo & the Bunnymen are at the Greek, and Father John Misty plays the Fox Theater in Pomona.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at historic Santa Monica music store and venue McCabe’s Guitar Shop, find out what gets left behind at Metro’s Lost & Found and get tickets for next week’s LAist x Moth StorySlam at Los Globos.
Events
Los Angeles Old Time Social
Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 Velaslavasay Panorama 1122 W. 24th Street, University Park COST: SUGGESTED $20; MORE INFO
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Corey Burns
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Los Angeles Old Time Social
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The 16th annual Los Angeles Old Time Social celebrates the vibrant old-time music scene in Southern California. A kickoff concert on Friday is followed by a full day of activities on Saturday, May 16 at The Velaslavasay Panorama in West Adams. Attend workshops and jams for banjo, fiddle, guitar, singing and dancing. The event is capped off on Saturday night with a big square dance and musical cakes from 7:30 to 10 p.m. No experience or partner is needed. The square dance caller walks everyone through the moves before every song, so it’s easy to follow along in a fun and no-pressure environment.
Chocoholics and ice cream fiends will know pastry chef David Lebovitz’s work well. The Paris-based dessert king is in town promoting his cookbooks, The Great Book of Chocolate and Ready for Dessert with a special event at Friends & Family. His ice cream book is the bible for anyone who's tried their hand at making ice cream at home, and his other desserts also stand up to the test. Yum.
The Giving Trees
Saturday, May 16, 3:30 p.m. John Rowland Mansion 15959 E. Gale Ave., City of Industry COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The John Rowland Mansion is the oldest extant brick building in Southern California, and has a unique history that the House Museum has recently been instrumental in preserving. Spend some time at the Greek revival building with the whole family for The Giving Trees, a reading of children’s books to trees (with gratitude to Shel Silverstein!) in the garden at the permanent installation Let’s Make a Garden From Old Wounds.
Celebrity-Owned Private Collection Arcade and Pinball Auction
Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m. preview Captain’s Auction Warehouse 4421 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim COST: FREE TO PERUSE; MORE INFO
File this one under weird and wonderful. Head down to Anaheim to check out (and maybe bid on) your next game room addition. Ryan Adams — yep, that’s the one, former Mr. Mandy Moore and indie rocker royalty of the early 2000s — is apparently a big arcade collector, and he’s auctioning off much of his collection. There’s a wide range of arcade games and pinball machines on view to the public, plus opportunities to play, meet collectors and see the warehouse.
Red Bull Soapbox Race
Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. Gloria Molina Grand Park 200 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Daredevils will have a field day at Red Bull’s Soapbox Race, which will transform Grand Park into a cinematic racecourse, where 30 teams, selected from more than 400 applicants, will compete with gravity-powered, homemade crafts for ultimate bragging rights.
Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers: Day of Black Docs
Saturday, May 16, 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. American Film Institute 2021 North Western Ave., Los Feliz COST: FROM $23; MORE INFO
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Badwest
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Check out documentaries from Black filmmakers that “explore themes of social justice, self-determination, and community, highlighting the revolutionary leaders and movements that can help inform our present moment.” The day includes three feature-length films and one short film, with two that focus on L.A. history. Q&As will be moderated by journalist and AirTalk film critic Tim Cogshell.
Balboa Island Art Walk
Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. South Bayfront Promenade Newport Beach COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Balboa Island Artwalk
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Is there a more idyllic corner of SoCal than Balboa Island? Stroll the promenade and enjoy the art and the views at the 31st annual Balboa Island Art Walk. There’s live music and more than 90 artists showing their work with an ocean backdrop.
AAPI Market at Yama Sushi Marketplace
Through Saturday, May 30 Various locations (West L.A., San Gabriel and Koreatown) COST: VARIES, MORE INFO
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Courtesy Yama Sushi
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A rotating lineup of makers featuring Asian-owned brands is popping up at Yama Sushi Marketplace throughout May. This weekend, Omiso founder Ai Fujimoto will be sampling her yuzu miso paired with Yama’s black cod; also available for purchase as a frozen item. On May 30, DoShop Cookies will be available with baker Thy Do sampling her fan-favorite cookies, debuting new flavors and hosting a raffle.
Aaron Schrank
has been on the ground, reporting on homelessness and other issues in L.A. for more than a decade.
Published May 14, 2026 5:00 AM
Two tents on a sidewalk in Hollywood
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Ethan Ward
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Topline:
A group of volunteers in Hollywood say they are conducting their own homeless count in the area next week because they don't trust the results of the official regional one. The effort is organized by Hollywood 4WRD.
Hollywood count: About 60 volunteers, mostly staff from Hollywood service provider organizations, are expected to fan out across 30 census tracts Tuesday. Results will be made public a week later May 27, according to organizers.
Why it matters: The neighborhood count comes amid growing questions about the accuracy of the official regional homeless tally. The city of L.A.'s unhoused population decreased by 5.5% between 2023 and 2025, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. But a2025 analysis by the RAND Corporation found LAHSA had undercounted people living outside in certain areas, including Hollywood.
Since 2021, RAND researchers have conducted their own counts in Hollywood, Skid Row and Venice. That research effort, known as LA LEADS, has since lost funding.
Read on ... for details on the Hollywood count.
A group of volunteers in Hollywood say they are conducting their own homeless count in the area next week because they don't trust the results of the official regional one.
The effort is organized by Hollywood 4WRD, a coalition of nonprofit service providers, businesses and residents. About 60 volunteers, mostly staff from Hollywood service provider organizations, are expected to fan out across 30 census tracts Tuesday.
Results will be made public a week later May 27, according to organizers.
The neighborhood count comes amid growing questions about the accuracy of the official regional homeless tally.
The city of L.A.'s unhoused population decreased by 5.5% between 2023 and 2025, according toofficial estimates from the annual count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA. But a2025 analysis by the RAND Corporation found that LAHSA undercounted people living outside in certain areas, including Hollywood.
Hollywood 4WRD executive director Brittney Weissman said the organization’s own experience volunteering for the LAHSA count this year raised even more questions about accuracy.
“Our experience was so confounding, perplexing and inefficient that we've been really deeply questioning the value, utility and accuracy of the count for a couple of years now,” Weissman said.
Organizers said the Hollywood count will use methodology developed by RAND researchers, who ran their own professional counts in Hollywood, Skid Row and Venice from 2021 until earlier this year.
That research effort, known as LA LEADS, has since lost funding.
“If LA LEADS was continuously funded into the future, we would not be doing this effort,” Weissman said. "Because it's no longer funded, we felt we needed to take our own initiative to understand the lay of the land here.”
What's at stake?
More than $300 million in federal and county dollars are allocated annually based on homeless count results. That includes $220 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and nearly $100 million from L.A. County's Measure A sales tax.
LAHSA conducted its most recent official homeless count in January. The agency said it hopes to release the results this summer but has not confirmed a release date.
In her reelection campaign, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass takes credit for reducing homelessness in the city. The official count underpinning her claim is the same one RAND found was missing nearly a third of unsheltered people in key neighborhoods.
Weissman said Hollywood service providers need to know now whether more people are living in vehicles or sleeping outside, so they can adjust how they're doing outreach.
Organizers timed the May 27 release to influence budget negotiations still underway at City Hall, according to Weissman.
She noted that Bass' proposed budget does not include funding for Safe Parking LA, a program that allows unhoused Angelenos to live legally in their vehicles within sanctioned parking lots.
"If we find that vehicular homelessness is on the rise here and we need it badly, this gives us evidence with which to petition decisionmakers for that resource in our community," she said.
What RAND found
RAND's LA LEADS project ran bimonthly counts in Hollywood, Skid Row and Venice from 2021 until this January.
Comparing LAHSA’s official counts to its own, a RAND report found the 2025 homeless count captured 68% of the unsheltered population across those three neighborhoods.
RAND found the population of unsheltered people in Hollywood dropped 49% in 2024, a decline it linked to the city’s Inside Safe program. But the official LAHSA count still captured only 81% of what RAND found in the neighborhood.
The people being missed were mostly vehicle dwellers and “rough sleepers” — people living with no shelter, RAND said.
Skid Row's official tally fared worse, capturing 61% of what RAND found there.
Hollywood 4WRD said its methodology follows RAND’s LA LEADS methodology, which the group said is more precise than LAHSA’s approach.
Each census tract will be covered by at least two independent volunteers, a quality-control measure that helps organizers flag areas that might need to be recounted.
Volunteers will also use pens and paper to record their observations, instead of a mobile app. LAHSA has used an app for its count since 2022 and has acknowledged repeated technical problems with it.
The unofficial homeless count this month is limited to Hollywood, unlike LAHSA's countywide effort. Weissman said she hopes the effort will encourage other neighborhoods to check their own local data.
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Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published May 14, 2026 5:00 AM
Eight decades in, the original Tommy's stand at Beverly and Rampart still glows.
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Courtesy Original Tommy's
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Topline:
Original Tommy's turns 80 this week. To mark the octogenarian occasion, on Friday, a chili cheeseburger will cost you just 80 cents instead of the regular $5.50 at all locations, noon-8 p.m.
Why it matters: In Los Angeles, you can't get more local than a Tommy's Burger. Consuming the smothered burger — its signature beanless chili dripping through the to-go wrapper — is a rite of passage for many. Eight decades in, the original stand is still standing at Beverly and Rampart.
The details: On Friday, noon to 8 p.m. only, you can get 80-cent chili cheeseburgers (limit three per person) at all Southern California and Nevada locations. The anniversary celebration at the original downtown L.A. location includes the Belmont High School Marching Band, a DJ and a resolution from Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez , who represents the area, honoring 80 years of business in California.
The backstory: Tommy Koulax opened the original stand at Beverly and Rampart in 1946. This week, the iconic SoCal chain, which spawned many competitors, celebrates 80 years across all 32 of its locations — and you're invited. Daughter Cynthia Koulax will be greeting the community Friday, alongside CEO Dawna Bernal and CFO Richard Hicks.
Topline:
Original Tommy's turns 80 this week. To mark the octogenarian occasion, on Friday, a chili cheeseburger will cost you just 80 cents instead of the regular $5.50 at all locations, noon-8 p.m.
Why it matters: In Los Angeles, you can't get more local than a Tommy's Burger. Consuming the smothered burger — its signature beanless chili dripping through the to-go wrapper — is a rite of passage for many. Eight decades in, the original stand is still standing at Beverly and Rampart.
The details: Friday, noon to 8 p.m. only, you can get 80-cent chili cheeseburgers (limit three per person) at all Southern California and Nevada locations. The anniversary celebration at the original downtown L.A. location includes the Belmont High School Marching Band, a DJ and a resolution from Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez , who represents the area, honoring 80 years of business in California.
The backstory: Tommy Koulax opened the original stand at Beverly and Rampart in 1946. This week, the iconic SoCal chain, which spawned many competitors, celebrates 80 years across all 32 of its locations — and you're invited. Daughter Cynthia Koulax will be greeting the community Friday, alongside CEO Dawna Bernal and CFO Richard Hicks.
Henry Wilkinson and Kristina Ross record a makeshift shelter during LAHSA's homeless count Jan. 20.
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Jordan Rynning
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LAist
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Topline:
Every December, the federal government releases a report that reveals the number of homeless residents in each state and across the country. It’s now May and the report, which compiles data from a homeless census known as the “point-in-time count,” is nowhere to be found.
Point in time count: For the past two decades, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has required local regions to take a census of their homeless populations every other year in a massive undertaking called the point-in-time count. Volunteers go out on foot over a day or two in January and count every person they see living outside. People sleeping in shelters are tallied as well. Counters also conduct surveys of a sample of unhoused people, collecting extra data on people’s race, age, gender, time spent homeless, medical and mental health conditions, and more. Each jurisdiction must submit their count to HUD by the spring. They also release their local data to the public. Meanwhile, HUD verifies the data, tallies the total count for each state and for the country as a whole, submits a public report to Congress and uploads more detailed data on its website.
Why it matters: While there’s no legal deadline, that report usually comes out in December of the year of the count. It’s unclear why the 2025 report still isn’t out. The delay is a problem because the report dictates how funding is allocated in California and beyond. It also shapes policy decisions and provides the country’s main barometer for how the homelessness crisis is being managed. The five-month delay is leaving public officials, policymakers and advocates scratching their heads. California has filled the gap by tallying its own data, showing a 9% drop in the number of people sleeping outside. But unlike the official federal report, California’s analysis leaves out information such as the race, age and mental health status of the people who are counted. And without the full federal report, there’s no way to tell where California stands compared to other states.
Every December, the federal government releases a report that reveals the number of homeless residents in each state and across the country.
It’s now May and the report, which compiles data from a homeless census known as the “point-in-time count,” is nowhere to be found.
That’s a problem because the report dictates how funding is allocated in California and beyond. It also shapes policy decisions and provides the country’s main barometer for how the homelessness crisis is being managed.
The five-month delay is leaving public officials, policymakers and advocates scratching their heads. California has filled the gap by tallying its own data, showing a 9% drop in the number of people sleeping outside. But unlike the official federal report, California’s analysis leaves out information such as the race, age and mental health status of the people who are counted. And without the full federal report, there’s no way to tell where California stands compared to other states.
“It’s a big deal,” said Jesse Rabinowitz, spokesperson for the National Homelessness Law Center. “This is, by what I can tell, the latest any point-in-time count has ever come out, including the years where it was delayed during COVID.”
'Point-in-time' count
For the past two decades, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has required local regions to take a census of their homeless populations every other year in a massive undertaking called the point-in-time count. Volunteers go out on foot over a day or two in January and count every person they see living outside. People sleeping in shelters are tallied as well. Counters also conduct surveys of a sample of unhoused people, collecting extra data on people’s race, age, gender, time spent homeless, medical and mental health conditions and more.
The count isn’t perfect (volunteers can easily miss people, and different counties use different methods), but it’s a key tool policy makers use to measure changes in the population.
Each jurisdiction (which is known in HUD parlance as a “continuum of care” and typically is made up of a county and the cities within it) must submit their count to HUD by the spring. They also release their local data to the public. Meanwhile, HUD verifies the data, tallies the total count for each state and for the country as a whole, submits a public report to Congress and uploads more detailed data on its website.
While there’s no legal deadline, that report usually comes out in December of the year of the count. In 2021 and 2020, when COVID disrupted counts, the reports came out the following February and March, respectively.
It’s unclear why the 2025 report still isn’t out. The report is so much later than usual that some counties, including San Francisco, already released their 2026 count data.
HUD refused to comment.
“It is perplexing that HUD has not released this information,” Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, said in a statement to CalMatters. “Perhaps the Trump administration is afraid to release clear data that demonstrates California’s strategies for addressing this issue are actually extremely effective.”
What California's data show
California’s data does point to a reduction in homelessness, suggesting the state’s methods are starting to work. Data provided by the Newsom administration, and echoed by an independent analysis, show a 4% overall decrease between 2024 and 2025, and a 9% drop in people sleeping in tents, on the sidewalk, in cars or in other places not meant for habitation.
That data comes from the 30 California continuums of care that counted their street homeless populations last year. The remaining 14 that counted this year instead (they’re only required to count at least every other year) are not included.
“I think it shows that the headwinds in California continue to be very strong and continue to push more people into homelessness,” said Alex Visotzky, senior California policy fellow for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “but the investments to build up the response to homelessness have made a really big difference and are moving people out of homelessness faster than ever before.”
That runs counter to President Donald Trump’s platform, which holds California up as an example of failed homelessness policy. California follows a principle called “housing first,” which prioritizes getting people into housing immediately and then addressing their other needs (such as mental health and substance use help). The Trump administration wants to end housing first, which it says isn’t working, and instead withhold housing until people enroll in addiction treatment or other programs.
California also uses most of its federal funds to pay for permanent housing, which experts say is the most effective way to end someone’s homelessness. The Trump administration recently tried to divert that money to temporary shelters where people stay for a limited time.
California's homelessness strategy
California is one of 19 states suing the Trump administration over that change. That case is ongoing, but, in a win for the states, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s changes.
A drop in homelessness in California would have a significant impact on the country’s overall homeless population. Nearly a quarter of all unhoused Americans lived in California as of 2024 — a total of more than 187,000 people, according to the most recent HUD report.
The New York Times found homelessness also dropped in other places around the country last year, including Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., Minnesota, Florida and Maine, which it found points to a nationwide reduction.
If homelessness dropped nationwide in 2025, it would be the first time in eight years. In 2024, the national count hit 771,480 — an 18% increase from the year before.
