* 3.5 million people (1.35 million of which are children) will experience homelessness in a given year.
* Children under the age of 18 account for 39% of the homeless population. 42% of these are under the age of 5.
* 43% of the homeless population are women; 40% of these women are unaccompanied. 22% of homeless women claim domestic abuse as reason for homelessness. 25% of these claim to have been abused within the past year.
* Families with children comprise 33% of the homeless population.
* Vets constitute 40% of the homeless population.
* 1 in every 5 homeless persons has a severe or persistent mental illness.
* 25% of the homeless nationwide are employed.
Who is Homeless in Los Angeles
The average homeless adult is 45 years old.
At least 10,000 homeless youth sleep on the streets of L.A. 79% go unsheltered at night.
- 59% of the homeless are adult males.
- 41% are women and children.
- 33% are GLBT.
- 25% are victims of physical or sexual abuse during childhood (36% including those who have experienced abuse since living on the streets).
- 33% of the homeless are chronically homeless. This means that they have either been continually homeless for at least one year, or have had four or more episodes of homelessness within the past three years
- 19% have been homeless for less than two months. 31% have been homeless for between two months and one year. 50% have been homeless for more than one year.
- 75% drink and smoke marijuana. 60% use speed. 41% use heroin. 33% use other drugs.
- 52% panhandle and recycle for their income. 23% seek aid from family and friends. 21% use sex and prostitution. 16% deal drugs. 7% have legitimate jobs.
15% of homeless adults lived in foster care.
- Of the estimated 1000 youth that leave LA county’s foster system monthly, 45% end up living on the streets immediately or within 6 weeks
41% are high school graduates; 10% have earned college degrees.
- Approximately 25,000 Women and girls are homeless every night.
13% report having been raped in the past year
- 59% of women report being victims of physical abuse in their lifetime. 24% report abuse within the past year.
12% are veterans.
- Vets are twice as likely to become homeless.
25% are physically disabled.
- This figure rises to 42% when mental and physical disabilities are considered together.
- Homeless women who have been homeless for more than one year are 1.8 times more likely to have a permanent disability than women who have been homeless for less than one year.
- 15% of people newly diagnosed with AIDS are homeless
- 33%-50% of the homeless have a mental illness.
- 33%-50% abuse substances.
50% of homeless adults are African American, compared to 9% of LA’s total population.
24% are Latino, compared to 47% countywide. 19% are Caucasian, compared to 30% countywide. 2% are Asian, compared to 12% of LA’s total population.
16%-20% of homeless adults are employed.
- 41% have been employed within the past year.
- 76% had been employed some or all of the 2 years prior to becoming homeless.
- 77% have held at least one job for more than one year. 54% have held a job for more than two years. And 30% have held a job for more than five years.
20%-35% live in shelters.
- The number of shelter beds in LA grew from 2,452 in 1984, to 18,529 in 2003.
- 42%-77% of the homeless population is not utilizing benefits to which they are entitled.
Families make up 20%-43% of the homeless count nightly.
- These families are typically headed by a single mother.
86% of homeless adults are United States citizens.
- 40% of LA’s homeless adults were born in California.
- 75% have lived in LA for at least 7 years.
- 19% moved from outside of California.
