Outgoing California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the state has fallen by nearly 13% since 2024.
Data provided by the governor’s office shows that the statewide count of unsheltered homeless individuals decreased from 123,974 in 2024 to an estimated 108,125 in 2026. Over the same timeframe, the state’s overall homeless population declined by approximately 6%.
The figures remain preliminary and rely on reports submitted so far by communities across California to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials noted that the data could still shift because a handful of communities, including Santa Clara, Butte, and Mendocino counties, have not yet reported their unsheltered populations for the current year.
In 2026, unsheltered individuals—defined as those sleeping outside in tents, vehicles, or other makeshift shelters—accounted for about 62% of all homeless Californians. While the 2026 estimate of 108,125 people sleeping rough represents a notable drop from recent peaks, it remains only slightly below the 108,423 unsheltered individuals recorded in 2019, the year Newsom assumed office.
Throughout his tenure, Newsom’s record on the issue has drawn intense scrutiny. Historical figures show that during his time in office from 2019 to 2026, the state’s overall homeless population experienced a 16.2% increase, peaking at 187,084 people in 2024—the same year the national homeless population reached historic highs. Historical records indicate California’s highest-ever recorded homeless population occurred in 2005 under then-Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at 188,299 people, before dropping to 123,480 by the time Schwarzenegger left office in 2010. Those numbers remained relatively flat under former Governor Jerry Brown.
Homelessness has shadowed Newsom’s political career since his tenure as mayor of San Francisco, where he frequently referred to the crisis as the state’s “original sin.” As a city supervisor in 2002, he successfully curtailed cash assistance for homeless individuals to fund in-kind services like shelter beds and food, and he dedicated his entire 2020 State of the State address to the crisis. With his gubernatorial term ending early next year, Newsom is reportedly laying groundwork for a 2028 presidential run, where his domestic record in California is expected to face national scrutiny.
“California is proving that homelessness is not inevitable,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re making progress because we’re building housing, expanding treatment and shelter, and holding ourselves and local governments accountable. We’re not backing down — and we’re not done.”
In recent years, as public pressure mounted and homelessness expanded nationwide, the governor’s office has highlighted several incremental improvements, pointing to a 9% reduction in unsheltered individuals between 2024 and 2025, alongside an 8% drop in veteran homelessness during that same period. Newsom has also embraced aggressive enforcement measures, welcoming a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming that local governments may fine and arrest unhoused individuals for public camping without violating constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
