2026 LA Homeless Count Explained: Dates, Maps, and How LAHSA Measures Homelessness
Homelessness in Los Angeles remains one of the most visible and complex urban challenges in the United States. Accurately measuring the scope of homelessness across such a large and diverse region requires coordination, consistency, and community involvement. Each year, the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, led by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), provides the most comprehensive snapshot of homelessness in Los Angeles County.
For HomelessMap.com, which focuses on visualizing homelessness data and geographic trends nationwide, the LA Homeless Count is a cornerstone dataset. This article explains how the 2026 LA Homeless Count works, when and where it takes place, how volunteers participate, and why mapping is essential to understanding homelessness in Los Angeles.
What Is the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count?
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is an annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count conducted across Los Angeles County. Required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the PIT count is used nationwide to measure homelessness, allocate funding, and track trends over time.
In Los Angeles, the count focuses on unsheltered homelessness, visually identifying individuals who are living without permanent housing. This includes people staying in:
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Tents and encampments
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Vehicles such as cars, vans, and RVs
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Sidewalks, parks, alleys, and other public spaces
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Makeshift or temporary outdoor structures
While sheltered populations are counted separately through administrative data, the field-based count is essential for capturing the geographic reality of homelessness on the ground.
A Countywide Effort Led by Volunteers
The LA Homeless Count is one of the largest coordinated civic efforts in the region. Each year, thousands of Angelenos volunteer to help count their unhoused neighbors. Volunteers work alongside outreach teams and local partners to ensure coverage across Los Angeles County.
According to LAHSA, the Homeless Count is a countywide event that brings communities together, emphasizing transparency, consistency, and public participation. Volunteers are trained to visually identify individuals experiencing homelessness while respecting privacy and safety guidelines.
This community-based approach not only improves data quality but also increases public awareness of homelessness as a shared regional challenge.
2026 LA Homeless Count Dates and Schedule
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count takes place over the course of three days, allowing LAHSA to systematically cover the majority of Los Angeles County.
Key scheduling details include:
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The count is conducted over three consecutive days
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Counting occurs at night, generally starting after 8:00 p.m.
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Nighttime counting allows most unhoused individuals to settle in for the evening, improving accuracy and reducing double counting
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Approximately 150 Deployment Sites are used to cover the county
Each deployment site serves as a staging location where volunteers receive assignments, instructions, and safety briefings before heading out into the field.
Why the Count Happens at Night
Conducting the Homeless Count at night is a deliberate methodological choice. Many people experiencing homelessness are more mobile during daytime hours, making it harder to capture an accurate snapshot.
By counting after dark:
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Individuals are more likely to be in one location
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Encampments and vehicle dwellings are easier to identify
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The risk of double counting is reduced
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Data consistency improves across neighborhoods
This nighttime approach is used in major cities across the country and is considered a best practice for Point-in-Time counts.
Service Planning Areas (SPAs) and Geographic Coverage
Los Angeles County is divided into Service Planning Areas (SPAs), which help organize social services and data collection efforts. During the Homeless Count, different SPAs are assigned to specific nights to ensure full coverage without overlap.
This structured geographic approach allows LAHSA to:
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Cover urban, suburban, and rural areas efficiently
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Allocate volunteers strategically
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Prevent duplicate counts across adjacent neighborhoods
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Produce SPA-level data that supports targeted policy decisions
For mapping platforms like HomelessMap.com, SPA-based data is especially valuable because it allows homelessness trends to be visualized regionally rather than treated as a single countywide number.
Volunteer Registration Requirements for 2026
Anyone interested in participating in the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count must register in advance.
Important registration details include:
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All past volunteer accounts have expired
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Every volunteer must register for a new Homeless Count account
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Returning volunteers must create a new account, even if they participated in previous years
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Registration is required to access deployment sites, training materials, and assignments
This reset ensures that volunteer information is current and that all participants receive updated training and instructions for the 2026 count.
How the Data Is Used
The data collected during the LA Homeless Count has far-reaching implications. It is used to:
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Determine federal, state, and local funding allocations
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Inform housing policy and program development
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Identify geographic hotspots and emerging trends
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Track year-over-year changes in homelessness
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Support public accountability and transparency
While the PIT count represents a snapshot rather than a full census, it remains the most consistent and widely used tool for measuring homelessness at scale.
Limitations of Point-in-Time Counts
Like all large-scale data collection efforts, the Homeless Count has limitations. Because it captures a single moment in time, it may miss individuals who move frequently or avoid contact. Weather, visibility, and local conditions can also affect results.
For this reason, HomelessMap.com treats PIT data as a baseline, combining it with longitudinal trends, mapping tools, and supplemental reporting to provide broader context.
Why Mapping Matters
Raw numbers alone cannot fully explain homelessness. Mapping transforms data into visual insight by showing:
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Where homelessness is concentrated
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How patterns shift over time
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Differences between neighborhoods and regions
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The relationship between homelessness, infrastructure, and housing costs
By pairing LAHSA’s Homeless Count data with geographic visualization, HomelessMap.com helps users better understand the spatial realities behind the statistics.
Conclusion
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is a critical effort that relies on community participation, careful planning, and standardized methodology. Conducted over three nights, starting after 8 p.m., and supported by approximately 150 deployment sites, the count provides the most reliable snapshot of unsheltered homelessness across Los Angeles County.
For researchers, policymakers, advocates, and residents alike, understanding how the Homeless Count works is essential. When paired with mapping tools and longitudinal analysis, this data helps transform numbers into insight — and insight into informed action.
