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By Brian Hews
Publisher | Follow X
August 2, 2026
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count painted a mixed picture across Southeast Los Angeles County, with some cities reporting sharp increases in unsheltered homelessness while others recorded declines or little change from a year ago.
The annual Point-in-Time Count, conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, is a one-night census of people experiencing homelessness and serves as the region’s benchmark for measuring year-to-year trends. The data also helps determine how millions of dollars in federal homelessness funding are distributed to local agencies and service providers.
Among the cities covered by Los Cerritos Community News, percentage changes varied widely. Cerritos recorded the largest increase, with its unsheltered homeless population rising 270 percent, while Pico Rivera posted the largest decrease, cutting its unsheltered homeless population nearly in half. Bellflower and Santa Fe Springs reported no year-over-year change.
Although percentage changes can appear dramatic in cities with relatively small homeless populations, the figures provide a consistent snapshot of how homelessness is changing from one year to the next throughout the region.
Cerritos Homeless Count Jumps 270%, One of Region’s Largest Increases
The number of unsheltered homeless people counted in Cerritos increased dramatically during the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, rising from 10 people in 2025 to 37 this year, a 270 percent increase that ranked as the largest percentage increase among cities in the Los Cerritos Community News coverage area.
The annual Point-in-Time Count found no sheltered homeless residents in the city, meaning all individuals identified during the count were living outdoors or in vehicles.
Volunteers documented 70 dwellings associated with homelessness, including 16 cars, eight vans, eight recreational vehicles, 34 makeshift shelters and four tents.
Despite the sharp percentage increase, Cerritos’ total of 37 unsheltered individuals remained below neighboring Norwalk, which recorded 102, and Downey, which counted 98.
The Point-in-Time Count is conducted each year to provide a snapshot of homelessness throughout Los Angeles County and helps determine the distribution of federal homelessness funding.
By the Numbers
La Mirada Homeless Declines 14 Percent
La Mirada recorded 12 unsheltered homeless individuals during the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, down from 14 a year earlier.
The decrease of two people represented a 14.3 percent decline.
No sheltered homeless residents were reported during the count.
La Mirada continued to have one of the region’s smallest unsheltered homeless populations.
Pico Rivera Homeless Falls 50 Percent
Pico Rivera recorded one of the region’s largest improvements during the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.
The city counted 19 unsheltered homeless individuals, down from 37 in 2025, a decline of 18 people, or 48.6 percent.
No sheltered homeless residents were counted.
The decrease contrasted with increases recorded by many neighboring communities.
Whittier Homeless Drops 50 Percent
Whittier recorded 51 unsheltered homeless individuals during the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, down from 100 in 2025.
The decline of 49 people represented a 49 percent decrease.
Despite the reduction, Whittier continued to have one of the larger unsheltered homeless populations in the region.
Bellflower Homeless Drops 53 Percent
Bellflower recorded the largest percentage decrease among cities in the Los Cerritos Community News coverage area during the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.
The city counted 44 unsheltered homeless individuals, down from 94 in 2025, a decline of 50 people, or 53.2 percent.
Bellflower also reported 53 sheltered homeless residents staying in temporary shelters.
The sharp decline represented the largest year-over-year reduction in unsheltered homelessness among the cities surveyed.
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