By: Phoebe Huang

In 2023, the L.A. homeless population swelled by 6,000; ending up at a staggering 50,000. L.A. alone contains half of California’s unhoused population, making it understandable that homelessness is a top concern for LA residents. For years, no one has been able to stop this increase. However, this year, Mayor Karen Bass’ program is bringing hope.

More than 2 years ago, Bass began aggressive efforts to move the homeless from the streets to motel rooms. Although Bass put a great deal of work and money into this program, she warned that the population of homeless Angelenos could still grow before her efforts made a dent. But on Friday, she and her crew received a great outcome – the program worked! For the first time in six years, the number of the homeless has decreased.

Compared to last year, the population of homeless people decreased by 2.2 percent. Even better, the population of homeless people sleeping on streets, in tents, or cars decreased by 10 percent. These numbers may be small but will lead to big changes.

Bass’s program is making ripples in showing the nation new ways that can effectively impact the problem of homeless. For many, this hopeful solution came just in time. Just hours before the results of the census came, the Supreme Court issued a ruling easing the process of banning sleeping in public for local governments on the West Coast, a change that can be seen as adverse to helping the homeless. Many worry the court decision will result in homeless people being punished, rather than helped. In response to the court, Ms. Bass said that Los Angeles’s progress in convincing people to move indoors had demonstrated that arresting homeless people was a “failed response.”

Many residents of L.A. are delighted to see a slight improvement in life, and hopeful for more to come.