By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
The number of veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County fell sharply this year, even as the county’s overall homeless population is moving in the opposite direction — a divergence local officials attribute to a coordinated, years-in-the-making push specifically targeting veteran homelessness.
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Point-in-Time Count estimated 2,257 veterans experiencing homelessness across the county, a drop of 793 veterans, or 26%, from the 2025 estimate. Point-in-Time Count is a one-night snapshot, where volunteers fan out on a single night each year to count how many veterans are living unsheltered.
The One Team By-Name List works differently: it’s an ongoing, name-by-name roster of veterans that outreach workers have actually identified, met and confirmed served in the military, letting caseworkers track and follow up with each person individually rather than just estimating from a distance.
“You only get these results through collaboration at all levels and the political top cover to cut through excuses and finger-pointing. Every partner involved in the One Team effort has played a significant role and I applaud each and every one of them,” said Jim Zenner, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA).
The One Team initiative aligns outreach, data, and service delivery across federal, county, local, and community partners through a shared By-Name List, helping ensure veterans are connected with the right services at the right time.
Outreach teams, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Veterans Homeless Outreach Services Team (VHOST) and Veterans Mental Evaluation Team (VMET), and MVA’s Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) are often the first to engage veterans experiencing homelessness, build trust, and guide them into the broader system of care.
“Veterans experiencing homelessness face a significantly greater risk of suicide, and no single agency can solve this crisis alone,” said Sgt. John D. Strosnider, supervisor of the Sheriff’s Department’s Veterans Homeless Outreach Services Team. “That’s why we’ve embraced a Team of Teams approach — bringing together the Department of Veterans Affairs, LASD, MVA, VPAN, VA Outreach, and our community partners. Together, we build trust, intervene during crisis, connect veterans to life-saving resources, and work relentlessly to prevent and respond to veterans experiencing homelessness.”
As veterans enter the system, they’re routed through the county’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing, led by Sarah Mahin — the county’s newest homelessness department, established this January.
“Seeing a decrease in veteran homelessness shows that when we coordinate our efforts and fund programs we know are effective, we can successfully bring people inside,” said Mahin.
Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis (D-Downtown LA, East LA, Pico-Union, Boyle Heights, El Monte, West Covina, Baldwin Park, Pomona) called the results encouraging but incomplete.
“Every veteran within the Los Angeles Continuum of Care deserves the support and services they need to regain stability, dignity, and agency in their lives,” Solis said. “This year’s Homeless Count, which showed a significant decrease in homelessness for our veterans, demonstrates the power of collaboration across systems of care and government.”
The coordinated push traces back to a 2025 motion by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights), approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors, directing county departments to strengthen coordination across the veteran homelessness response system.
“It’s a deep shame that so many veterans put their lives on the line for our country, only to come home and find themselves on the street,” Hahn said. “But this decrease is encouraging and shows what’s possible when we coordinate not only across the County family but with our partners as well. This is about returning these brave men and women the dignity and respect they’re owed.”
