A new survey reveals nearly universal agreement among Los Angeles County residents that homelessness in the region is a problem. And nearly 10% of respondents reported having experienced homelessness themselves.
The details
USC Dornsife researchers published new results from the L.A. Barometer survey on Thursday. Some of their findings include:
- 93% of Angelenos said homelessness is a problem in L.A.
- 63% said they see people experiencing homelessness on a daily basis
- 9% said they’ve experienced homelessness themselves, a number that rises to 21% for L.A.’s Black residents
- Nearly one-in-four Angelenos (23%) said they’ve experienced some form of housing instability as an adult, including everything from couch-surfing with friends or family to staying in motels, vehicles or tents on the street
About the methodology
The results were based on a survey of about 1,500 L.A. County residents that took place between late June and mid-October.
What people think is causing the crisis
Respondents were most likely to point to mental illness (85%) and addiction (84%) as the top factors driving L.A.’s high homelessness numbers.
Fewer respondents pointed to the cost of housing (78%), unemployment or financial hardship (74%) or racism (31%).
Kyla Thomas, a USC sociologist who directs the L.A. Barometer survey, said while mental health and substance abuse issues contribute to homelessness, research shows they’re not the top drivers — even though many people think of them first.
“The research shows also that the cost of housing and housing supply is a bigger part of the problem,” Thomas said. “It’s interesting to see how…
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