Nearly one third of all people who are unhoused in the United States live in California, according to a new study released on Tuesday. The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness also found that 50% of all unsheltered people in the country live in California. The study, which was requested by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration, is the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s.
The study, which encompassed nearly 3,200 surveys and 365 in-depth interviews with adults experiencing homelessness across the state, revealed that almost 90% of respondents reported that the cost of housing was the main reason they could not escape homelessness. Many people surveyed said they face barriers such as poor credit history, discrimination, health challenges, or prior evictions when trying to rent or buy a home. California is currently experiencing a housing shortage crisis, and the state is home to some of the most unaffordable places to live in the country.
The research also showed that California’s homeless population is growing older, with the median age of participants being 47 years old. Nearly half of the state’s homeless population is 50 years old or older. The study also found that an overrepresented majority of the homeless population in California are Latino (35%), Black (26%), and Native American (12%).
In addition, the study revealed that two-thirds of all participants surveyed reported struggling with mental health issues, and 72% had experienced some type of physical violence in their lifetime. Many of the unhoused people surveyed are also looking for jobs, with almost half of them actively seeking employment.
To address the growing housing needs and combat homelessness, the study recommends six policy changes, including increasing access to affordable housing for extremely low-income households, expanding targeted homelessness prevention programs, providing robust supports for behavioral health needs, increasing household incomes through employment supports, growing outreach and service delivery to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and embedding a racial equity approach in all aspects of homeless system service delivery.
In response to the issue of homelessness, the Biden administration recently unveiled an initiative called “ALL INside” to help unhoused people in cities with high homeless populations access federal services. The initiative aims to reduce homelessness nationwide by 25% by January 2025. The cities included in the initiative are Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, and Seattle.
The study’s findings highlight the urgent need for affordable housing and comprehensive support services to address the homelessness crisis in California and across the United States.
why are there so many homeless in california
That has resulted in high rental and housing prices.
According to the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness, nearly one third of all people who are unhoused in the United States live in California. Additionally, 50% of all unsheltered people in the country are located in California. This study, which was the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s, was requested by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.
The study encompassed nearly 3,200 surveys and 365 in-depth interviews with adults experiencing homelessness across the state. The results showed that almost 90% of respondents reported that the cost of housing was the main reason they could not escape homelessness. Many individuals surveyed also mentioned facing barriers such as poor credit history, discrimination, health challenges, or prior evictions when trying to rent or buy a home.
One major contributing factor to the homelessness crisis in California is the housing shortage. The state is currently experiencing a shortage of affordable housing, leading to high rental and housing prices. This makes it difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to find affordable options and break the cycle of homelessness.
Overall, the study highlights the significant impact of income loss and high rental costs on the growth of homelessness in California. It emphasizes the need for affordable housing solutions and support for individuals facing barriers to housing.
It’s disheartening to see California continually leading in the homelessness crisis. These alarming statistics imply an urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address this ongoing issue.
This study on California’s homelessness crisis reveals some alarming statistics, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions. It’s clear that more attention, resources, and innovative approaches are required to address this pressing issue.