For the first time ever, homelessness in Los Angeles has declined for two consecutive years — a hopeful milestone in a long, complex fight. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count shows a 4% decrease in overall homelessness, with an estimated 72,308 individuals currently unhoused. Even more encouraging, unsheltered homelessness dropped nearly 10% countywide, including a 7.9% drop within the City of LA.

These numbers reflect more than data; they represent lives stabilized and communities beginning to recover. But while this progress is meaningful, we know much more must be done to end homelessness in LA.

Housing efforts like Inside Safe and Pathway Home have played a vital role, but a critical — and often overlooked — tool in ending homelessness is employment.

That’s where LA:RISE has come in.

Through LA:RISE, REDF and our partners — including employment social enterprises, WorkSource Centers, and AJCCs — are helping individuals across LA gain income, stability, and purpose. Transitional jobs and supportive services give people the tools to not only exit homelessness, but to stay housed and build lasting futures.

We’re proud to be part of this progress, and we’re ready to do more to ensure this positive trend continues.

What is LA:RISE?

LA:RISE (Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise) is a partnership between city and county workforce agencies, REDF, and employment social enterprises. It provides transitional jobs, training, and wraparound supports — like childcare, transportation, and counseling — to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Participants are typically unemployed, under‑employed, or disconnected from traditional work; they take on paid jobs for 3–12 months while developing job-readiness skills, then transition into unsubsidized jobs.

Why Employment Matters

• Economic stability: Between 60–90% of people experiencing homelessness are unemployed. Gaining work provides the income and stability necessary to secure and retain housing.
• Confidence & belonging: Programs like LA:RISE also build social capital. Participants report increased self-worth, community connection, and structure.
• Proven outcomes: Nearly half of LA:RISE participants transition into unsubsidized jobs, a critical step toward lasting independence.

Holistic models that stitch together housing support with employment show far more consistent housing stability than shelter-only approaches.

The Bigger Picture

LA:RISE complements ongoing housing efforts. As more people exit the streets via temporary shelter or interim housing, employment becomes the essential next step — turning short-term safety into long-term stability. While LA continues to see a downward trend in homelessness, the real solution lies at the intersection of affordable housing, shelter, and job pathways.

Employment initiatives like LA:RISE help close that gap, ensuring individuals don’t just exit homelessness — but stay housed.  The latest homeless count offers hope, yet sustaining progress hinges on pairing housing with meaningful work. LA:RISE is proving that jobs aren’t just optional — they’re essential.