California's unsheltered homelessness declined 7.3% in 2026 across 37 reporting communities, marking the second consecutive year of decline, according to preliminary data released by Governor Gavin Newsom's office. Both total and unsheltered homelessness have fallen for two consecutive years for the first time in more than a decade. The state's unsheltered population is now slightly below 2019 levels, when Newsom took office.
The numerical declines over the two-year period from 2024 to 2026 are among the largest since 2009, according to the data. In 2025, California reduced unsheltered homelessness by approximately 7%, more than twice the national rate of decline. Over the longer term, from 2019 to 2025, unsheltered homelessness surged 26% nationwide while California's unsheltered population increased just 6.6%.
The preliminary 2026 results include updated counts from 37 Continuum of Care regions, which are local reporting areas that accounted for nearly 90% of California's reported unsheltered population in 2025. Across all 44 regions statewide, preliminary estimates show total homelessness declined 3.4% compared with 2025 figures, while unsheltered homelessness declined 6.5%.
California's approach includes funding and programs for local governments to create housing and shelter, expanding behavioral health treatment, updating conservatorship laws for the first time in 50 years, and streamlining housing development. In 2025, the state announced a SAFE Task Force to address encampments in 10 major cities. Since 2021, state transportation officials have removed more than 19,000 encampments on state right-of-way and collected approximately 354,000 cubic yards of litter and debris.
Governor Newsom said: "California is proving that homelessness is not inevitable. We're making progress because we're building housing, expanding treatment and shelter, and holding ourselves and local governments accountable."