Homelessness Prevention in Los Angeles County Brief
Despite the national decreasing trend in homelessness, California remains on the front lines of the crisis. On any given night in California in 2018, 129,972 people are homeless. Of these, 52,765 are residents of Los Angeles County. First-time homelessness in Los Angeles County is increasing: In 2018, 9,205 Angelenos experienced homelessness for the first time, an increase in the annual incidence of first-time homelessness by 1,161 persons. Structural causes such as inadequate wages and a constrained supply of affordable housing exacerbate the problem and complicate solutions.
This project evaluates the county’s current homelessness prevention efforts spearheaded by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), called the Prevention and Diversion Program.
