Santa Monica’s homeless population spiked by 26% last year

The number of homeless people in Santa Monica jumped sharply last year, with many coming from other parts of Los Angeles.

A recent count showed there were 921 homeless residents in Santa Monica, a 26 percent increase from 728 people a year earlier, according to a report provided to the Santa Monica City Council.

Out of the people surveyed, 30 percent had been living in Santa Monica for under a month and 46 percent had come to the area from elsewhere in LA., Curbed reported. More than 30 percent were originally from outside California.

Across Los Angeles, more than 47,000 people sleep in their cars, or in tents on the streets, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The number of people living on the street went up by 39 percent last year, while people living in cars and encampments jumped by 26 percent, according to Curbed. The shelter population in the city also increased, by 9 percent. [Curbed] — Miriam Hall