Despite efforts at the state and local level to address the growing homelessness crisis, California is seeing the fastest increase in its unhoused population in the country.

California’s population of unhoused people accounts for 30 percent of the nationwide homeless population, reports Emily Hoeven for Cal Matters, as well as 50 percent of unsheltered people in the United States. For comparison, the state is home to 12 percent of the U.S. population. Meanwhile, half of the federal emergency housing vouchers issued to the state have gone unused, “largely because of bureaucratic hurdles in certain areas such as San Francisco, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.”
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the state also has the highest homelessness rate (44 people out of every 10,000) and the fastest increase in its homeless population (23.4 percent between 2007 and 2022). Nationally, the number of unhoused people remained roughly unchanged between 2020 and 2022.
Last week, new Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency over the homelessness crisis, triggering access to state and federal funding sources. As Hoeven explains, L.A. homeless advocates warn that more people could become unhoused after February 1, when “when the city is set to lift a pandemic rule that blocked landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and other reasons.” Bass “also issued a sweeping executive order Friday that aims to significantly speed up the development of 100% affordable housing by requiring city agencies to finish reviewing applications within 60 days — instead of the typical six to nine months.”
FULL STORY: California accounts for 30% of nation’s homeless, feds say

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

‘Quality Work, Fast’: NC Gears up for Homebuilding After Helene, Trying to Avoid Past Pitfalls
The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions