LOS ANGELES — The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count estimated 2,257 veterans experiencing homelessness within the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC), a decrease of 793 veterans, or 26%, from the 2025 estimate. At the same time, the One Team By-Name List accounted for approximately 71% of the estimated veteran homeless population, up from about 52% the previous year. Together, these measures reflect continued progress in strengthening the coordinated, unified response to veteran homelessness across Los Angeles County.

The annual Homeless Count provides a point-in-time estimate of self-reported veterans experiencing homelessness within the Los Angeles CoC on a single night each year. In contrast, the One Team By-Name List is a continuously updated, person-level list of veterans with verified military service in Los Angeles County who have been identified and engaged through the local response system, allowing partners to coordinate case management and improve access to housing, benefits, healthcare, and other supportive services.

“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). “Our department will continue to push the effort until every veteran is housed and any veteran who loses housing is able to be rapidly re-housed. Our veterans deserve nothing less.”

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. That’s why we’ve embraced a Team of Teams approach—bringing together the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) VMET, LASD VHOST, MVA, VPAN, VA Outreach, and our community partners,” Sgt. John D. Strosnider, Supervisor, Veterans Homeless Outreach Services Team (VHOST), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Together, we build trust, intervene during crisis, connect veterans to life-saving resources, and work relentlessly to prevent and respond to veterans experiencing homelessness. Every veteran deserves dignity, hope, and a path home. Our mission is simple: leave no veteran behind.”

As veterans enter the system, the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) coordinates the County’s homelessness response across departments, local jurisdictions, and community partners. Through the Emergency Centralized Response Center (ECRC) – Homeless Initiative, HSH brings together staff from the Departments of Mental Health, Health Services, Public Health, Public Social Services, MVA Homeless Services Division (HSD), the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and city care teams under one roof to manage referrals and coordinate housing and supportive services.

“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 Sarah Mahin, Director, HSH. “However, our work is not done. To invest in solutions at the scale this issue demands, we need more state and federal support. We will continue to push for these resources to ensure the people who served their country receive the services and housing resources they deserve.”

Within this response, MVA’s HSD, which includes the Veterans Housing Navigation Program (VHNP), provides military service verification, benefits advocacy, documentation assistance, and housing navigation to help veterans overcome barriers to permanent housing and achieve long-term stability. Since launching late last year, VHNP has served 477 veterans, helped 75 veterans secure permanent housing, and completed more than 2,056 veteran service actions in support of housing stability.

Through One Team, the VA, MVA, VPAN, LASD, HSH, LAHSA, housing providers, and community organizations each contribute specialized expertise to support veterans on their path to permanent housing.

The annual Homeless Count and the One Team By-Name List provide complementary perspectives on veteran homelessness. Together, they help partners understand trends, measure progress, and prioritize outreach, housing resources, and supportive services.

“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,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor. “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. While the work ahead continues, this is an encouraging result that demonstrates the coordination, care, and investment, through our Department of Veteran and Military Affairs, make meaningful differences in the lives of the veterans we serve.”

In 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, Supervisorial District 4, directing County departments to strengthen coordination across the veteran homelessness response system, including the development of a real-time veteran dashboard and By-Name List to support coordinated case management and housing navigation.

“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. 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,” Hahn said.

The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count and the One Team By-Name List demonstrate how shared data, coordinated outreach, and sustained collaboration continue to strengthen Los Angeles County’s response to veteran homelessness while informing efforts to connect more veterans with permanent housing and the services they have earned.

Resources

Veterans experiencing homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, and anyone seeking assistance on behalf of a veteran can access the following resources:

Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) – Homeless Services Division
Available to assist veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Los Angeles County.
Phone: (877) 452-8387
Email: HSDUnit@mva.lacounty.gov
Web: https://lacmva.co/request

211 LA County
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for information and referrals to health, housing, and human services.
Phone: 211
Web: https://211la.org

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Phone: (877) 424-3838
Web: https://www.va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter.asp

Crisis Assistance

If a veteran is experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency, or there is an immediate danger to the veteran or others, call 911 immediately. Be sure to tell the dispatcher the individual is a veteran.

Veterans Crisis Line
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call or text 988, then press 1
Chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net