California's homeless population is still rising, but the rate of increase appears to be slowing. Why it matters: The state's homeless population remains the largest in the nation, but the new figures indicate the crisis is worsening at a slower pace than the rest of the country.

Homelessness grew just 3% in California last year, compared to 18% nationwide.

The Bay Area's homelessness crisis worsened in 2024, with a 6% rise pushing the number to an estimated 38,891 people, according to new federal data.

Newly released federal data says California’s homeless population grew to 187,084 at the start of 2024, up from 181,399 in 2023, raising questions about the efficacy of the state’s tens of billions of dollars in recent homeless spending.