California reported one of the largest decreases in homelessness over the past year, according to a new report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud).
The Golden state recorded a total unhoused population of 181,934 in 2025 – an almost 3% decrease since the year prior, placing it among the five states with the largest decreases from 2024. However, more significant drops were recorded in Illinois (44%), Hawaii (41%), Florida (11%) and New York (8%).
The new data signals at least some success on the part of Gavin Newsom, the California governor who has intensified his crackdown on homelessness over the past year. In May 2025 he announced a new model ordinance for cities and counties to address “persistent” homeless encampments, as well as $3.3bn in voter-approved funding to increase housing and drug treatment programs.
Florida enacted HB 1365, which prohibits counties and cities from allowing people to regularly camp or sleep on public property. It even allows businesses to sue the government for lack of enforcement.
New York is basically the opposite. Demanding shelter for eligible residents. Illinois is also progressively approaching homelessness.
Hawaii is a mixed bag. So is California.
I’m guessing you mean “Illinois is taking a progressive approach to solving homelessness” but the way you phrased it makes it sound like homelessness is the condition they’re trying to achieve
Solving is doing a lot of heavy lifting there…
During Covid, my town set up portable shelter in one section of the town common. No one likes the problem to be so visible but at least we were doing something.
Now there are many fewer visible homeless, the problem is “fixed”