What’s Being Done About the California Homeless Population?
California has always been a postcard for the American dream. Beautiful weather, gorgeous beaches, and Redwood forests have attracted diverse, ambitious people for decades.
In reality, California also faces many challenging social issues. Since 1980, incomes for families in the 90th percentile have increased by 60%. Median income grew by 24%. Those in the 10th percentile saw a 20% increase.
Housing prices and wealth disparity increased dramatically over the last few years. Wages and the supply of affordable housing did not keep pace. The California homeless population is increasing as a result.
Homelessness Challenges for Los Angeles
While all major cities in California struggle with the homeless issue, Los Angeles is at a flashpoint. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reports that LA has almost 64,000 homeless persons, an increase of 13% from 2019.
In April 2021, federal judge David Carter ruled that Los Angeles must offer shelter to 4,600 people living on the city’s notorious Skid Row by October.
Different Solutions for Varied Situations
The word “homeless person” conjures up images of people in breadlines and sleeping in doorways. Local governments’ homeless encampment cleanup efforts make the local news.
In reality, people experience homelessness for varied reasons. Some may stay on a friend’s couch for a few weeks before finding an apartment. Another homeless person may end up living on the streets for decades.
For example, in Los Angeles the homeless population estimates look like this:
- 7% are veterans
- 38% are chronically homeless
- 1% identify as transgender
- 19% say they have a physical disability
- 27% say they have substance abuse use disorder
- 7% report they are fleeing a violent intimate partner relationship
- 25% – 50% are dealing with a mental illness
Long-term solutions for homelessness must take into account the differences.
Homeless Crisis or Affordability Crisis?
Homeless advocates in California point out that the homelessness crisis is actually an affordability crisis. As home prices and rents soar, living options dwindle for lower-income people.
Local opposition is another second challenge to providing service to the homeless. Many local residents do not want homeless projects in their neighborhoods. They block proposals for permanent supportive housing, shelters, and affordable housing.
Local residents may support anti-camping ordinances and restrict RV parking on residential streets. Property owners cite loss of property value and public safety among their top concerns.
Below are some of the different ways California is trying to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Emergency Shelters
Emergency Shelters provide temporary housing. They are not designed for long-term stays. Many have a mixed record. The worst of them are overcrowded and unsafe.
In some cities, homeless people feel safer sleeping on the streets than in a shelter.
To improve the system, San Francisco and Los Angeles are adding access to health and social service providers in shelters.
Other cities, like Oakland, are experimenting with different models. Some are providing tiny houses and small sheds for emergency and transitional shelter. While tiny spaces are safer and more comfortable than large emergency shelters, they are not ideal for the long term.
A Bridge Home
A Bridge Home center provides homeless people with a temporary place to stay while they connect with social services. ABH is a step toward permanent housing. Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti proposed to add one ABH in each council district.
Progress has been slow. Officials grappled with a combination of rising production costs and strong resistance from local residents in some areas. Some advocates also see this project as too little too late. The homeless situation is worsening faster than the government can add services to stem the tide.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Emergency Shelters are a short-term stopgap measure. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) offers long-term programs of coordinated care. Residents can access a subsidized apartment, counseling, rehab, job training, and access to medical care.
The Housing First model uses Permanent Supportive Housing. It doesn’t require individuals to agree to quit drugs or go to rehab as a condition of housing. Studies show residents tend to make better choices to stay off the streets and out of jail once they have a roof over their head.
One challenge is that Permanent Supportive Housing construction costs are very high. Some cities are experimenting with buying and renovating hotels instead.
Rehousing Efforts
Once someone experiences homelessness, it’s much harder for them to get back into housing. For that reason, cities are looking at preventive measures to help keep people from falling into homelessness in the first place.
Lower-income people often don’t have a safety net. An illness or other unexpected expense may put families at risk of eviction. California has put more funding into eviction counseling and defense.
Emergency cash assistance funds help families make up a temporary shortfall. Los Angeles County is experimenting with using big data and artificial intelligence to help pinpoint at-risk people.
Rapid re-housing programs also help to keep people out of long-term homelessness. They provide a security deposit and first month’s rent to people who were recently evicted.
An Uncertain Future for the California Homeless Population
State officials don’t know yet how the COVID-19 disruption will affect the California homeless population. Some fear the lockdowns put more low-income people at risk for homelessness. This could possibly lead to a spike in evictions.
One thing is certain. Solving homelessness requires persistence and a combination of different approaches. Federal and state-level cooperation is essential, yet government programs take time to implement.
If you are curious about different solutions to the homelessness epidemic in our country, check out our articles about other states working to solve this thorny societal problem once and for all.
