Santa Monica is taking a more direct approach to addressing homelessness, with the city reporting a significant drop in unsheltered homelessness while also taking greater control of its local response system.
According to the City of Santa Monica, the 2026 Point-in-Time Count found 718 people experiencing homelessness in the city, down 11.6% from 2025. The number of people sleeping outdoors fell by 18.1%, while people living in vehicles dropped nearly 30%.
At the same time, the City Council approved a new Housing Focused System of Care in August. The plan is designed to give Santa Monica greater control over its homelessness services instead of relying primarily on the county-run system.
The new approach includes more local control over shelter placements, expanded outreach and case management, and a focus on connecting people with appropriate housing and services. The city is also taking over management of the 34-room Palm Motel and plans to replace some existing congregate shelter capacity with smaller, more localized options.
The changes come as Santa Monica continues to work on its broader Homelessness Strategic Plan, which focuses on prevention, outreach, housing, and coordination between city departments and service providers.
For residents, the main takeaway is that Santa Monica is reporting progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness while also making a significant shift toward managing more of the response locally.