LA Metro Cuts Homelessness 40% With Care-Based Approach
LA Metro housed 2,709 people in FY2025, reducing transit homelessness by 40%
LA Metro Cuts Homelessness 40% on Transit
LA Metro connected 2,709 people to housing during Fiscal Year 2025, officials said Thursday. The effort reduced homelessness on the transit system by nearly 40%, according to the agency's annual point-in-time count released July 24. Metro's count found 615 people experiencing homelessness on the system in January 2025, down from 1,015 the previous year. Stephanie Wiggins, Metro's chief executive officer, said the care-based approach is working.
Context
Metro shifted from enforcement to a care-based strategy in recent years, partnering with county and city agencies to connect riders with housing and services. The approach reflects a broader industry trend among transit agencies nationwide, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Metro's count follows standardized federal methodology developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, making results comparable to other jurisdictions. Los Angeles County reported 75,312 people experiencing homelessness county-wide in 2024, providing context for Metro's specific efforts within the larger regional crisis.
Results
The 39.4% decrease represents a drop of 400 people experiencing homelessness on Metro's system between January 2024 and January 2025, officials said. Metro conducted its point-in-time count on Jan. 23, following the same methodology used in the previous year's count on Jan. 25, 2024. The 2,709 individuals housed during FY2025 were connected to either permanent or interim housing, though officials didn't provide a breakdown between the two categories. Wiggins said the results demonstrate that compassion and collaboration can drive real outcomes.
Implementation
Metro worked with county and city partner agencies throughout FY2025, which ran from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Officials didn't specify which agencies participated in the collaborative effort or how many outreach staff were deployed. The care-based approach focuses on connecting people with resources rather than enforcement measures, according to Metro. Wiggins said the agency remains committed to ensuring the transit system is safe and welcoming for all riders while supporting vulnerable community members.
Impact
The reduction in homelessness on Metro's system affects riders across the agency's service area covering 1,433 square miles and 10 million residents in Greater Los Angeles County. Officials said the collaborative framework will continue guiding future efforts. Metro didn't release budget figures for the homelessness outreach program. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on Metro routes and service information throughout the Los Angeles area.
