LA taxpayers watch their money sloosh away, while homelessness stats worsen

San Jose's Housing First neighbor Los Angeles observes similar results when pols try to combat homelessness by building costly permanent shelters (while ignoring mental illness and substance abuse patterns). The Post Millennial reports that LA's homeless population has increased by 10% since 2022, and city officials are “disappointed” that dollars invested ≠ worthwhile outcomes. Time to switch gears?

Homelessness has increased by ten percent in the city of Los Angeles, and it has increased in Los Angeles County by nine percent.

According to the 2023 Greater Los Angeles homeless count results conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Los Angeles County’s homeless population increased to approximately 75,518, an increase from 69,144 in 2022. In the City of Angels, the number of homeless people increased to approximately 46,260 people, an increase from 41,980 people in 2022.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that California holds half of all “unsheltered people” in the US.

Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, said, “The homeless count results tell us what we already know, that we have a crisis on our streets, and it’s getting worse.”

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn called the results “disappointing,” writing in a statement, “It is frustrating to have more people fall into homelessness even as we are investing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and resources into efforts to bring people inside. I appreciate the cities that have stepped up and supported solutions, but these numbers prove that solutions-oriented cities are too few and far between.”

This article originally appeared in the Post Millennial. Read the whole thing here.

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