Facts About Homelessness in LA
DEFINITION OF HOMELESS:A student between the ages of 0 to 22, who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and:
- Has a primary nighttime residence that is a shelter designated to provide temporary living accommodations such as shelters, motels/hotels, domestic violence shelters, and transitional housing
- Lives in a car, park, abandoned building, public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings,
- Lives temporarily in a trailer park or camping area due to the lack of adequate living accommodations. - lives “doubled-up" with another family, due to loss of housing, stemming from financial problems.
- Is abandoned at a hospital.
- Resides in a home for school-aged, unwed mother or mother-to-be, if there are no other available living accommodations.
- Is awaiting foster care in limited circumstances but does not include placement in a foster family, foster family agency or group home.
- Is placed by the state in an emergency shelter due to lack of alternative housing.
- Is an abandoned, runaway or throwaway youth or migratory child living in any of the circumstances described above.
HOMELESS YOUTH IN LOS ANGELES:
- There are 13,445 identified students within LAUSD boundaries (Source: LAUSD Homeless Statistics, 2010)
- In 2011, 266 unaccompanied homeless youths under age 18 were counted in Los Angeles County. (Source: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority)
OTHER FACTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES:
- The average age is 40 - women tend to be younger.
- 33% to 50% are female. Men make up about 75% of the single population.
- About 42% to 77% do not receive public benefits to which they are entitled.
- 20% to 43% are in families, typically headed by a single mother.
- An estimated 20% are physically disabled.
- 41% of adults were employed within last year.
- 16% to 20% of adults are employed.
- About 25% are mentally ill.
- As children, 27% lived in foster care or group homes; 25% were physically or sexually abused
- 33%-66% of single individuals have substance abuse issues.
- 48% graduated from high school; 32% had a bachelor degree or higher (as compared to 45% and 25% for the population overall respectively).
