HSC - Item 3A - Attachment AGreater Los Angeles
Homeless Count
2020
LOS ANGELES HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Why we count
Behind these numbers are our NEIGHBORS.
We use this information locally to inform
policies and strategies to end homelessness,
and L.A.’s data contributes to the California
and national understanding of homelessness.
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COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Our homeless services system is helping more people than ever,
but we must go upstream to stop the inflow to homelessness
due to inadequate housing supply, income inequality, and
institutional racism.
CHALLENGES:
▶Systemic racism in housing, justice, health care and
economic policy
▶Housing supply 509,000 units short
▶Wages not keeping up with rent costs
▶Economic impact of COVID-19 and pandemic recession
SUCCESSES:
▶Annual Housing placements doubled since Measure H
▶LAHSA’s Housing Central Command increased speed of
placements
▶6,010 people sheltered quickly in pandemic.
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COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
The number of people
experiencing homelessness at
any point in time in L.A. Is still
unacceptably high COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES UP 13%
LAST YEAR WAS UP 12%
CITY OF LOS ANGELES UP 16%
LAST YEAR WAS UP 16%City of Los Angeles 35,550 41,290 16%
58,936 66,436 13%
2019 2020
Percent
Change
County of Los Angeles
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COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Homelessness is a regional
challenge
In Southern California, only one county’s
homeless count decreased - San Diego - while
the other five counties increased between 3%
and 20%.*
San Bernardino
Kern
Los
Angeles
Orange
Ventura
Santa
Barbara
San
Luis
Obispo
San
Diego Imperial
Riverside
*Orange and San Luis Obispo Counties did not conduct street counts in 2020;
Imperial County has not finalized data.
31/5
+19.9%
+4.4%
+2.6%
-6%
+12.7%
+5.2%
+18.8%
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
L.A.’s inadequate housing supply, systemic racism and
income inequality are driving inflows to homelessness
Wages have not kept pace with rents
Renters in LA County need to earn $41.96
per hour — 2.8 times the City of L.A.
minimum wage — to afford the average
monthly asking rent of $2,182.
L.A. needs 509,000 new affordable
housing units to meet current demand (CA
Housing Partnership 2020 report)
Systemic racism leads to a
disproportionate number of black
people becoming homeless In L.A. County,
where 8% of the overall population is black,
but black people represent 34% of those
experiencing homelessness.
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COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Inflow has Increased
in 2020
L.A. housed more people then ever,
yet our housing affordability crisis
drove a net rise in homelessness.
555,105*
Severely rent-burdened L.A. households
6,310 people prevented from entering
homelessness
58,936
2019
Point-in-time
count
+82,955
Estimated inflow
over 2019
-22,769
Housing
placements
-52,689
Estimated other
exits to housing
66,433
2020
Point-in-time
Count
*US Census ACS data
31/7
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
The share of sheltered
population increased in
both the City and
the County
2019
SHELTERED
LA COUNTY
LA CITY
UNSHELTERED
25%
25%
28%
30%
75%
75%
72%
70%
2020
▶18,395 people experiencing homelessness
in L.A. County were sheltered, up from
14,722 the previous year, a 25% increase
31/8
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
And once COVID-19 hit, our new
systems allowed us to shelter
thousands more
▶With unprecedented speed, our system has sheltered 6,010
of our most vulnerable in past 3 months alone as part of our
COVID-19 response.
▶Now, our focus is moving the 15,000 most vulnerable people
experiencing homelessness, and including all Project
Roomkey residents, into permanent housing.
▶We need the local, state and federal funds to make this
happen.
6,010
MARCH - MAY
2020
SHELTERED
HOUSING GOAL
15,000
COVID-19
RECOVERY PLAN
31/9
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Even in L.A.’s tight housing
market, we placed more
people than ever into housing
2014
9,658
11,904
15,131
17,558
21,631
34%
(7,258)
28%
(6,370)
23%
(5,332)
49%
(11,067)
24%
(5,158)
42%
(9,215)
22,769*
Other
Permanent
Housing
Supportive
Housing
Rapid
Re-Housing
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
*2019 total includes 244 placements from LACDA
▶22,769 housing placements, up from
last year and more than double annual
placements since before Measure H
▶88% of those placed through our system in
2018 have not returned to homelessness*
31/10
COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Thousands of permanent supportive
housing units are bringing our most
vulnerable inside
MORE THAN 10,000 PSH
UNITS IN THE PIPELINE
▶2,360 PSH units will open in
the next 12 months.
▶New PSH units fill within days,
a more robust rate than other
housing units.
Fiscal Year Total PSH Units
2019-20 732
2020-21 2,694
Cumulative total by:
2024-25 10,638
PATH Metro Villas opened March 26, 2019 with 65 new units of
supportive housing
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COUNT ANALYSIS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Our system continues
to help significantly
more people
PREVENTION 1,346 5,643 6,310*
201920182015
PRE-MEASURE H
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT 11,747 34,110 38,865
INTERIM HOUSING 18,979 24,493 26,032
PERMANENT HOUSING
PLACEMENTS 11,904 21,631 22,769
* Number from fiscal year 2018-19.
31/12
Insights from the
2020 Count Results
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Seniors 62+
increased by 20%
▶Seniors have been a focus
during the COVID-19 crisis,
with 1,953 adults 55 and
older sheltered through
Project Roomkey over the
past three months.
▶21% of the 4,939
unsheltered seniors from
2020 have been sheltered
through Project Roomkey.
Age of 62+ Age of 62+
4,255
4,939
5,231
6,290 Sheltered 38.4%
Unsheltered 16.1%
Total 20.2%
976 1,351
2019
SHELTERED
TOTAL
UNSHELTERED
2020 % CHANGE
Numbers are for LA Continuum of Care
31/14
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Homelessness Among Transition
Age Youth Households and
Unaccompanied Minors
Increased 19%
3,926
Total
4,673
Total
2,088
Sheltered
2,192
Unsheltered
2,585
Unsheltered
2019 2020
1,734
Sheltered
▶4,673 transition-aged
youth experienced
homelessness, up from
3,926 last year, within the
LA Continuum of Care
*Transition Age Youth Households includes both individuals 18-24 and members of families headed by persons 18-24.
31/15
Sheltered 0.2%
Unsheltered 0.8%
Total 0.6%
% CHANGE
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
0.6% increase
in veterans
3,878 3,902
982
Sheltered 984
Sheltered
2,896
Unsheltered
2,918
Unsheltered
2019 2020
This is the population that has
received the biggest boost in
federal, state and local investment
over the past decade.
Illustrates the serious challenge
of stemming the tide of inflow
to homelessness when the
population with the most stable
resource base simply holds
essentially flat.
Numbers are for LA County.
31/16
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Methodological
improvements
have set new
baselines for family
homelessness
and chronic
homelessness
▶A new, more accurate baseline for unsheltered families
resulted in a doubling of surveys from unsheltered families.
▶Better survey methods reveal that chronic homelessness is
more widespread than previously understood.
▶Because of these changes, year-to-year comparisons in
chronic homelessness and unsheltered families are not
comparable, and we should consider 2020 a new baseline.
31/17
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
45.7% increase
in families
8,799
Total
12,817
Total
7,111
Sheltered
9,731
Sheltered
1,688
Unsheltered 3,086
Unsheltered
2019 2020
▶36.8% increase in sheltered
families
▶This year an effort was
made to reach more
unsheltered families
(last year there were 83
surveys, this year there
were 180) creating a new,
more accurate baseline for
unsheltered families.
Numbers indicate family members; HUD
defines family as at least one adult over 18
with at least one dependent child under 18
Sheltered 36.8%
Unsheltered 82.8%
Total 45.7%
% CHANGE
31/18
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
A new level of
specificity on
substance use
▶This resulted in a doubling of unsheltered
who reported substance use in response
to the new question wording: 14,284
(32%), up from 6,583, or 16% in the old
methodology.
▶Notably, there was not a percentage
increase in reporting long-term mental
health conditions.
31/19
COUNT INSIGHTS
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Changes to demographic
survey give a more accurate
picture of vulnerability
▶HUD defines chronic as homeless more than a year and
has a disabling condition.
▶54% more people in 2020 meet the HUD definition of
chronic homelessness, from 16,528 to 25,460*.
▶Because of these changes, year-to-year comparisons in
chronic homelessness are not comparable, but we should
consider 2020 a new baseline.
*Numbers are for LA County
14,537
Unsheltered
1,991
Sheltered
2,638
Sheltered
22,822
Unsheltered
16,528
Total
25,460
Total
2019 2020
31/20
Demographic
Snapshot
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Structural racism causes black
people to be 4x more likely to
experience homelessness
L.A. CoC Homeless
Population
L.A. County
Population*
Hispanic/Latino 36.1%48.5%
Black/African-American 33.7%7.9%
White 25.5%26.3%
American-Indian/Alaskan Native 1.1%0.2%
Asian 1.2%14.4%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.3%0.2%
Multi-Racial/Other 2.1%2.5%
Without institutional racism, there would be
15,000 fewer people experiencing homelessness,
almost all coming from African-American & Native
American populations.
LAHSA, L.A. City & L.A. County are implementing
the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee
on Black People Experiencing Homelessness to
dismantle structural racism.
*U.S. Census Data
31/22
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
59% of newly homeless
cite economic hardship
as main reason
Percent of newly
homeless population*
First Time (<=1yr)
Economic Hardship 59%
Weakened Social Network 39%
Disabling Health Condition 24%
System Discharge 11%
Violence 8%
Other 4%
*Respondents may choose more than one reason.
▶⅔ of unsheltered adults are on their first
episode of homelessness
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DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
80% of unsheltered
Angelenos have been here
more than 5 years
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▶Two-thirds of unsheltered Angelenos became
homeless here in L.A. County
A-10%
A-64%B-10%
C-4%
D-20%
E-2%
B-10%
C-9%
Length of time in L.A.
County LA CoC, 2020
Place of Residence Before
Becoming Homeless L.A. CoC,
2020
D-71%A - < 1year
B - >1 - 5 years
C - >5 - 10 years
D - > 10 years
A - L.A. County
B - Other County in Southern CA
C - Other County in CA
D - Out of State
E - Outside of the U.S.
Numbers are for Unsheltered Adults 25+ and Children in Adult Families for the CoC only.
31/24
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Gender
Number % of Pop Number % of Pop
Cisgender Male 42,387 66.5%Male 42,797 67.2%
Transgender Male 410 0.6%
Cisgender Female 20,300 31.9%Female 20,671 32.4%
Transgender Female 371 0.6%
Non-Binary 177 0.3%Non-Binary 238 0.4%
Transgender Non-Binary 61 0.1%
Total 63,706 100%63,706 100%
▶⅔ of people experiencing homelessness
identify as male.
▶1.3% of people experiencing homelessness are
transgender
Numbers are for LA Continuum of Care
31/25
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Domestic and Intimate
Partner Violence
35% of Unsheltered Adults 18+ have a history
of domestic, intimate partner and other sexual
violence
▶Half of unsheltered cisgender adult
women 18+
▶6 in 10 Transgender
people of all genders
All Persons
Lifetime History of Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence
Cisgender Females
Cisgender Males
0% 10%
35%
15%
60%
49%
30%
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Gender Non-Binary
Transgender People
among Unsheltered Adults in LA CoC, N = 44,462
31/26
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
Count results by Service
Planning Area (SPA)
2020
SPA 1 - Antelope Valley 4,755
SPA 2 - San Fernando Valley 9,274
SPA 3 - San Gabriel Valley 5,082
SPA 4 - Metro Los Angeles 17,121
SPA 5 - West 6,009
SPA 6 - South 13,012
SPA 7 - East 4,586
SPA 8 - South Bay 6,594
Total LA County 66,433
SPA 1
SPA 2
SPA 3
SPA 7
SPA 8
SPA 4SPA 5
6
31/27
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
LAHSA’s new model and COVID-19
Recovery Plan are transforming
how our homeless services system
is managed
▶New strategic plan & command structure positions LAHSA
as the center of gravity for the complex homeless response
system--critical in L.A. where governance is diffuse
▶Real-time awareness of the permanent supportive housing
portfolio across government entities for the first time, and
will extend to all housing interventions
▶Housing Central Command will use this model to rapidly
move our 15,000 most vulnerable inside
PREVENTION
LAHSA Informs
Preserving affordable
housing, addressing income
insecurity and housing
stability, mainstream safety
net and anti-poverty efforts
The end-to-end system
that focuses on placing our
homeless residents into
temporary and permanent
housing
Street level efforts to
provide service to our
neighbors who are living on
the outside
Building housing for all
income levels and investing
in PSH creation
HOUSING
CREATION
LAHSA Informs
REHOUSING
SERVICES
SYSTEM
LAHSA Leads
STREET
MANAGEMENT
LAHSA Co-Leads
31/28
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
We need a bold, creative vision
to reimagine how to dramatically
grow L.A.’s housing supply and fix
systems that drive inflow
▶We need the state, county and city to fund the Homeless COVID-19 Recovery
Plan
▶We need to reimagine and expand the supply of affordable and supportive
housing with a regional approach that moves toward housing for all
▶We need to target prevention resources to the most vulnerable communities
to prevent a wave of evictions
▶We need to scale up anti-racist programs that change how our foster care,
health care, criminal justice and other systems work to advance racial justice
31/29
DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
2020 | GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT
It will take all of us to
reimagine our systems. We
need your help.
1. Advocate for system change to dismantle structural racism.
2. Advocate for expanded state and federal funding for LAHSA’s Covid-19
Recovery Plan and affordable housing and homeless services.
3. Support more interim and supportive housing in your local community; Join
the Everyone In Campaign.
4. Volunteer at your local homeless service agency.
31/30
Thank You
Thanks to the investments made by the people of LA County,
thousands of people have a home tonight. Our urgent
mission continues to help those who don’t.