The Brief

This year’s Greater L.A. Homeless Count, which kicks off Tuesday, will give us the most concrete data we have yet to understand whether the region is making progress on reducing homelessness. There are big stakes — in particular for L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who took office in late 2022 on a pledge to make reducing homelessness her top priority.

Whatever the official results are, the policies pursued in the future — and the people we put in charge to implement them — will also depend heavily on how Angelenos feel about the way things are going.

We wanted to take a temperature check on where those feelings stand. So last year, we distributed a survey.

Among the questions we asked: Do you feel like homelessness across L.A. has improved or gotten worse since Mayor Bass took office?

More than two-thirds of respondents told us it’s stayed the same or gotten worse.

An important note: This is by no means a scientific survey and nowhere near representative of a city of 4 million. That said, we heard from about 500 respondents. The answers help us get a better sense of whether Angelenos are seeing any changes and what they think of the direction the city is taking.

Here’s a breakdown with some insights from the wide range of answers we received. For transparency, we’ve included a map at the bottom of the story showing where these responses came from.

How has homelessness changed in your neighborhood?

First, the official data: Last year’s homeless count, conducted in January 2024, showed a 10% drop in the number of people sleeping outdoors across the city compared with the year before. There was a nearly 18% increase in sheltered homelessness, reflecting a shift in people moving from the streets to being indoors. The overall number of people experiencing homelessness in L.A. city, and across L.A. County, essentially remained flat.

But the degree to which you might notice any difference depends on where you are. The visibility and experience of homelessness varies across neighborhoods and even street to street.

So it’s no surprise that most of the survey responses we got were extremely mixed, even from within the same neighborhood. However, some trends did stick out.

Downtown L.A.

In downtown L.A., the vast majority of respondents said they felt homelessness had either stayed the same or increased.

Here’s what some of our readers said when asked for more detail:

• “As camps have closed in other areas, we have seen an increase in homeless and drug trafficking in DTLA. Specifically, the area surrounding the 7th Street Metro station entrances on Fig, Flower and Hope.” — Ralph P.
• “I used to pass two encampments when walking west on 3rd Street between Central Avenue and Main Street for years. They are now gone. Even in Skid Row, there are less tents blocking sidewalks. The bridge on Los Angeles in Chinatown passing over the 101 [Freeway] is now clear on both sides. ... Although there are still many people living on the street completely unsheltered (not even tents) and tented, downtown neighborhoods have improved significantly.” — Catherine Z.
• “It's heartbreaking, and it seems that no matter how much we spend or how many programs launch, nobody ever comes to help these souls.” — Ryan H.

Mar Vista

In Mar Vista, a handful of our readers said homelessness had noticeably decreased.

• “Many of the larger encampments have had their members housed temporarily in motels and hotels, and thus the local parks, sidewalks and freeway underpasses are no longer populated by our homeless community members. There are still encampments reoccurring in previously [cleared] sites, and areas with RVs and tents remain in some sites. Some homeless are now housed and seeking employment, and gaining medical and mental health services.” — Richard H.
• “We now have a few older homeless people, by themselves, on Venice Blvd. and adjacent blocks. We used to have several encampments (with 10-20 people), on Venice and just off Venice Blvd. ... These are gone.” — Kristin K.

Hollywood

In Hollywood, responses were almost exactly evenly split.

• “Same encampments all over Hollywood Blvd., from the 101 all the way to Gower.” — Patrick O.
  
• “Hollywood has had several successful Inside Safe operations — in specific spots where there were encampments, there are now none. They received housing. Of course, there are still many unhoused people in Hollywood — but this represents a tremendous win.” — Marian B.

• “I live in central Hollywood. I don’t just see our unhoused neighbors, I know their faces. I talk to them. I walk, don’t drive, and take the Red Line subway. Dramatically fewer folks are on streets or in parks in July ‘24 vs March ‘24, versus any point in 2023, and then in 2022/2021 similarly. Dramatically fewer.” — Rob

Below are some highlights from other neighborhoods.

Most respondents don’t think we’re making progress overall

While our readers had varying thoughts on how homelessness is affecting specific neighborhoods across L.A., a majority of the survey respondents agreed that, citywide, homelessness was about the same or worse from when Bass came into office. Here’s the breakdown of responses we received.

We asked respondents to elaborate and categorized those responses into a couple of themes. Among those who thought things were improving, most attributed it to personally seeing a decrease in homelessness in their neighborhoods. Others expressed confidence in the city’s approach and policies and said things were generally going in the right direction.

• “Well, I'm both appreciative and wary. The drop in encampments has legitimately improved our quality of life. We had two encampments that cut off our pedestrian access to Hollywood. I couldn't send my teens down to the farmers market on Saturday without supervision, and now I feel better doing so. But can it last?” — Gabrielle P., Hollywood
• “Mayor Bass' Inside Safe program is instrumental in bringing people indoors. Direct outreach to encampments is absolutely necessary to make contact with people in the encampments. Medical services, mental health services are necessary to keep those individuals from becoming more ill. The program is not perfect because social services are stretched thin, but it is a program on the right track.” — Jane D., Eagle Rock

Among those who thought things had not changed or were getting worse, most said their answer was based on not having seen any real signs of progress, be it long-term housing solutions or a decrease in visible homelessness. Others said government officials needed to focus more on other aspects of the crisis, like housing affordability, mental health and drug treatment.

• “I see no increase in the quality of life for homeless or those who share their communities with homeless.” — Daniel D., West L.A.
• “Unhoused people seem to be dislocated, but that just means they move to another location, and on and on. While I notice fewer people in my neighborhood, I haven't seen that translate to significant changes in the citywide landscape, as moving a person from one neighborhood just means they go to another.” — Amanda C., Echo Park
• “I don't think this is necessarily Mayor Bass' sole fault — our systems to address homelessness in LA City and County are highly dysfunctional. But the main reason is that we have not built enough housing in this city.” — Shikha B., Westlake

Who responded to the survey?

The survey received a total of 521 responses. Sixty-five of them came from outside the city of L.A., so Mayor Bass does not govern their neighborhoods. Here’s a map of where the responses came from. The survey opened on June 27, 2024, and remains open. The results reflect responses submitted between June and November 2024.

Take the survey yourself

If you read through these results and want to chime in with your own thoughts, we’re still collecting responses.

Fill in your answers below and we’ll have a fresh update on these results after the 2025 Homeless Count numbers are released.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

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J.W. Hendricks

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The LA Local

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In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.