Los Angeles County officials recently celebrated a decline in overall homelessness, yet a critical segment of the population—families with children—continues to face increasing challenges.
The latest count revealed alarming rises in the number of unhoused children and families living without shelter.
Data indicates that the number of unsheltered children and teenagers under 18 has surged nearly 22% this year, climbing from 1,558 in 2024 to 1,897 in 2025.
Additionally, unsheltered families with children saw an 18% increase, jumping from 903 to 1,067 in the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, the total count of families with children, both sheltered and unsheltered, rose 6%, from 3,520 to 3,728.
While the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) claims these increases are not statistically significant, they highlight a troubling trend: larger families are displacing into homelessness.
Among unsheltered families, the number of individuals within those families increased by 22%.
These patterns starkly contrast the broader trend, as the county saw overall unsheltered homelessness drop by 9.5% this year and 14% over the past two years.
Kelvin Driscoll, interim co-director at HOPICS, a South L.A. homeless services organization, reports a growing number of two-parent households seeking aid.
He emphasized the complexity involved in securing housing for larger families, given occupancy limits for shelter rooms.
Typically, rooms accommodate only 3 or 4 people, which forces families to separate.
“Do they want to stay together? Are the rooms close to each other? How close is the school?” Driscoll elaborated.
These challenges are uniquely complex for families compared to single adults.
Educational providers like Para Los Niños are witnessing a sharp uptick in unhoused students, reflecting the worsening economic struggles faced by families.
Jimmy Urizar, vice president of community and student services, noted an overall increase in families contending with homelessness.
Compounding this issue is the scarcity of adequate housing for families needing larger units.
Sasha Morozov, regional director for PATH, pointed out that most permanent supportive housing options available are one-bedroom units, making it difficult for larger families to find a place to stay.
LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell highlighted systemic inadequacies, stating, “Our homelessness response system was originally designed around single adults—not families.
As a result, services for families are often too few and the first to run out.”
Despite the increasing need, city and county initiatives have mainly targeted the clearing of encampments, often overlooking the unique circumstances of families.
Katie Hill, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, criticized this approach, saying, “Right now, the priority has been on reducing encampments, and that’s where families have been left behind.”
Her organization has had to turn away over 700 families since December due to capacity constraints, underscoring the pressing lack of resources.
Motel vouchers, once a critical support for families experiencing homelessness, are also drying up, further complicating their situation.
As Los Angeles County celebrates progress in reducing individual homelessness, the plight of families and children draws attention to an urgent need for tailored solutions that can address the growing homelessness crisis facing this vulnerable demographic.
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