Trump administration touts historic drop in homelessness as HUD scraps Biden-era policies

 The Trump administration is touting a historic drop in homelessness nationwide — but California’s biggest city is bucking the trend.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday that homelessness had recorded its largest-ever decline, crediting President Trump’s border crackdown and push to replace the Biden-era approach to housing with policies focused on addiction treatment.

“According to data from the 2026 nationwide Point-in-Time (PIT) count, 698,425 individuals were homeless on a single night in January, a 6.3% decrease since President Trump took office in 2025. This follows historic border control and a Supreme Court victory reaffirming the right of local governments to limit dangerous encampments,” HUD said.

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Law enforcement agencies participate in “Operation Free Skid Row” on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Los AngelesCarlin Stiehl for CA Post

But California’s homelessness crisis is moving in the opposite direction.

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President Donald Trump speaks to the media before walking across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Los Angeles County recorded an estimated 73,040 homeless residents in 2026, a 1.2% increase, while the city of Los Angeles saw its homeless population jump 3.4% to 45,194, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

“Under the Biden Administration’s Housing First mandate, homelessness increased 28% from 2022 to 2025. This is why HUD is dispensing with this harmful approach and implementing Treatment First policies to help Americans tackle addiction,” the agency added.

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Tents stand across the street from the Midnight Mission on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026Pedro Colo for CA Post

HUD Secretary Scott Turner also took aim at the Biden administration’s immigration policies, accusing illegal immigrants of contributing to homelessness and criticizing sanctuary policies in states including California, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts.

The Trump administration is moving away from the longstanding federal “Housing First” model, which prioritizes providing shelter without requiring people to first undergo addiction treatment, in favor of its “Treatment First” framework, which emphasizes addressing substance abuse and connecting people with care.

Trump signed an executive order in July 2025 directing federal agencies to pursue the new approach and crack down on homelessness, crime and disorder in public spaces.

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HUD Secretary Scott TurnerJonathan Alcorn for CA Post

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Plainclothes FBI agents speak to people on 5th and Towne Ave. in Skid Row, Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026, during a voter fraud investigationAndy Johnstone for CA Post

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A view of downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, July 23, 2026, where homeless figures have risen as Mayor Karen Bass points fingers at others for the issueAndy Johnstone for CA Post
https://nypost.com/2026/11/06/us-news/trump-administration-touts-historic-drop-in-homelessness-as-hud-scraps-biden-era-policies/