Costly health care, rent put L.A. County families on street

The Daily Breeze

Originally published Friday, December 16, 2005

Costly health care, rent put L.A. County families on street

Study finds expensive health problems and an inability to pay the rent are two key reasons why families wind up homeless.
By Alison Shackelford Hewitt
Copley News Service

Expensive health problems and an inability to pay the rent are two key reasons why families in Los Angeles County wind up homeless, according to a preliminary study released Thursday by a homeless-services group.

The study by Shelter Partnership also found that local shelters have only enough beds to house about 1,000 of the estimated 8,500 families that are homeless every night countywide. And because of reductions in federal rent assistance and the small supply of affordable housing, families are staying homeless longer, the survey reported... Many shelters are not geared toward helping whole families.

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The Shelter Partnership study also found that as many as 17 percent of the children in homeless families have developmental disabilities or mental illness. That in turn may prevent both parents from working, which can push a family into homelessness. With the shortage of affordable housing, a single income usually isn't sufficient any more, Hayslet said.

Shelter Partnership's survey found homeless families have more to overcome than previously, with 17 percent of household heads with substance abuse, 11 percent facing chronic health issues such as diabetes and 5 percent dealing with a disability.

Shelter Partnership plans to release the final results of its survey in January.


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