City of Glendale Releases 2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2026

City Media Contact: Communications and Community Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (818) 548-3342

City of Glendale Releases 2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count Results

Glendale, CA - The City of Glendale released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count, which found a 54% decrease in unsheltered individuals who reported becoming homeless in Glendale. Of the 124 unsheltered individuals counted, 17 reported becoming homeless in Glendale, compared with 37 in 2025.

While fewer unsheltered individuals reported becoming homeless locally, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness who were counted in Glendale increased. The January 20, 2026 count identified 220 individuals experiencing homelessness in Glendale, a 12% increase from the 2025 PIT count.

Of the 220 individuals counted, 96 were sheltered and 124 were unsheltered. Compared with 2025, the sheltered population decreased by 13%, while the unsheltered population increased by 43%.

"Behind every number is a person with their own circumstances and needs, and our responsibility is to meet people where they are," said Mayor Ardy Kassakhian. "Our Housing team continues to approach this work from many directions, from helping residents stay housed before they reach a crisis to connecting people experiencing homelessness with outreach, shelter, supportive services, and pathways to permanent housing. While we are encouraged to see fewer people reporting that they became homeless locally, we know there is more work to do."

Sheltered Population Demographics

Among the 96 sheltered individuals, 52% are female and 48% are male. Accompanied children made up 48% of this group. Hispanic/Latino individuals represented the largest racial and ethnic group among sheltered individuals at 46%, followed by Black/African American individuals at 23%.

The sheltered population also included individuals with increased service and support needs. Among sheltered individuals, 19% identified as adult survivors of domestic violence, 13% reported chronic health conditions, 5% reported mental health conditions, and 2% reported substance use disorders. Chronically homeless sheltered households without children decreased by 11%.

Unsheltered Population Demographics

Males represented 82% and females represented 18% of the unsheltered homeless population. The count found this population is 34% White, 32% Black/African American, 19% Hispanic/Latino, and 10% Middle Eastern or North African. The number of Middle Eastern or North African individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness increased from one in 2025 to 12 in 2026. Forty-two percent of unsheltered individuals are age 55 or older, including nearly 22% age 65 or older. All 124 unsheltered individuals belong to households without children.

Housing Affordability Remains Leading Cause of Homelessness

Housing affordability and economic instability remained the leading contributors to homelessness. Nearly 40% of unsheltered respondents cited inability to afford rent as the cause of their homelessness.

Among 39 unsheltered individuals surveyed, the top reported causes of homelessness include:

Of the 15 individuals who reported an inability to afford rent as the cause of their homelessness, five were renting in Glendale prior to becoming homeless.

Decrease in People Becoming Homeless in Glendale

Of the 124 unsheltered individuals, 17 reported becoming homeless in Glendale, a 54% decrease from the 37 identified in 2025. Of the 17, nine individuals (53%) were experiencing homelessness for the first time, and eight individuals (47%) reported living in Glendale their entire life prior to becoming homeless.

Decrease in First Time Homelessness

Eighteen unsheltered individuals reported experiencing homelessness for the first time, a one person decrease from 2025. Of the 18, nine became homeless in Glendale. All but one of the first-time homeless individuals were male and 6, or 33%, were between the ages of 55 and 64 years old. Of these 18, six (33%) reported divorce or separation as the cause of their first-time homelessness, five (28%) reported inability to afford rent, four (22%) reported the death of a parent, and four (22%) reported loss of employment.

The Most Common Disabling Conditions are Mental Health Disorders

At 17 reported cases (44%), mental health disorders represented the most reported disabling conditions among unsheltered individuals. The remaining disabling conditions reported included 12 cases (31%) of physical disabilities, 10 cases (26%) of chronic health conditions, nine cases (23%) of alcohol or drug use, and six cases (15%) of developmental disabilities.

Programs and Investments

The City's Homeless Services section continues to strengthen the City's coordinated approach to preventing and addressing homelessness. Homeless Services administers federally funded Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Continuum of Care (CoC) program, the state-funded Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program, Los Angeles County Measure A and Measure H funded programs, and the locally funded Glendale Hotel Program. These programs support outreach, homelessness prevention, interim and permanent housing, supportive services, and long-term housing stability.

To address housing affordability and stability for Glendale renters, the City of Glendale established the Glendale Rental Assistance and Stabilization Program (GRASP). The new rental assistance program aims to help renters experiencing a destabilizing financial event with targeted temporary financial support.

Affordable Housing Efforts

This year, Glendale will complete development of 408 extremely low to low-income units.

Pioneer Village will provide 340 high-quality apartment homes for individuals, families and seniors earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Parkview Glendale will provide 68 apartment homes for older adults earning between 30% and 60% of AMI. The City's Housing Division continues to actively seek new acquisition opportunities for development or conversion.

How to Help

Preventing and ending homelessness is a community project that involves a variety of efforts, including coordinated outreach, emergency shelter, mental health services, rapid rehousing assistance, domestic violence support services, and permanent housing. The City of Glendale Homeless Services Directory assists homeless individuals and residents seeking to connect someone experiencing homelessness to homeless services by providing contact information for organizations that serve a variety of individuals and communities. Additional resources and programs, such as the Landlord Incentive and Mobile Shower Program, are available at GlendaleCA.gov/Homeless-Services.

More information about the Homeless Count, including comparative data, is available at Engage.GlendaleCA.gov/GlendaleHomelessCount.

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About Glendale

Known as the "Jewel City," Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.