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.
Near me they built shelters for a few hundred people.
Now if we could get red states to stop bussing their homeless to California that would help
That’s a crazy thing that I can’t believe actually happens.
In college I worked in a gas station. We would always have the cops in our station right in the middle of town. The owner gave them discounts on coffee so they would come.
We also had a bunch of homeless people in our city and they would come in a lot too.
One time we had an issue and called the cops and one told me they would pickup these people every few weeks and put them on a bus going a few towns away. He said they will send them back in a few months.
But it’s funny! Cantcha take a joke?