Los Angeles County, California Homeless Deaths Decline

United States===Los Angeles County, California reported the first decline in homeless deaths in over a decade in 2024, with 2,208 fatalities, 300 fewer than the previous year. The mortality rate decreased by 10%, largely due to a 21% drop in drug overdose deaths, attributed to prevention efforts and increased Naloxone distribution. Despite this progress, an average of six unhoused individuals still die daily, and their mortality rate remains four times higher than the general population. Drug overdose is still the leading cause of death, followed by heart disease and traffic-related injuries. Suicides increased by 21%. Public health officials, including Barbara Ferrer, Karen Bass, and Lindsey Horvath, acknowledged the positive trend but warned that significant federal and state funding cuts to homeless services, including those by the United States===Los Angeles County, California Board of Supervisors and Governor Gavin Newsom, threaten to reverse this progress. The United States===Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority projects a substantial funding gap for homelessness programs.