Democrat Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has blamed the Trump administration for the city's rising homelessness ahead of the annual homeless count expected on Friday, July 24, 2026.

In a statement shared with FOX 11 reporter Matthew Seedorff on July 23, Bass said, “The Trump Administration has driven up the cost of gas, groceries, and rent — pushing more families to the edge — and slashed critical safety net funding.” She also noted that "last year’s state cut of over $70 million severely impacted our work to keep people housed and get more Angelenos off the streets.”

Bass highlighted that the lack of adequate services, controlled by Los Angeles County, remains a significant challenge contributing to people cycling in and out of homelessness. Despite these funding cuts, she stated that the City of Los Angeles has reduced homelessness by 13% since 2023.

However, according to the Los Angeles Times, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles is expected to increase by 3.4% from last year. Data from 2024 showed 75,312 homeless persons in Los Angeles County and 45,252 in the City of Los Angeles.

Local residents expressed skepticism about the numbers, with one telling FOX 11, “My eyes are better than numbers.” Bass expressed concern that the homeless population for 2026 would rise following the state and federal funding reductions.

Sources