Los Angeles homelessness rises 12 percent amid slow economic recovery

Reuters) ^ | Steve Gorman

[BenLurkin]

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's report cited stagnant or falling wages among the lowest-income earners, a local jobless rate that remains above state and national averages, and a worsening lack of affordable housing.

...

According to the agency's latest biennial count, an estimated 44,300 people are living on the streets, in cars, in abandoned buildings or in shelters and government-funded "transitional housing" on any given night in Los Angeles County.

That tally, based on a census conducted in January, is up 12 percent, or nearly 5,000 people, across Los Angeles County, compared with numbers reported from the previous survey in 2013.

The same percentage increase was recorded within the city of Los Angeles proper, home to a notorious downtown Skid Row district that ranks among the greatest concentrations of homeless in the United States. The city alone accounted for more than a third of the county's total.

The number of families with children included in the overall count also rose 12 percent from 2013.

As in past years, many of the homeless suffered from substance abuse, mental illness or physical disabilities. The number who were victims of domestic violence increased substantially since 2013, along with the number considered chronically homeless.

[Flick Lives]

The monthly chocolate ration has been increased from 8 ounces to 6 ounces.

[minnesota_bound]

I have 2 new hires at my place of work that were unemployed for up to 13 months. Nothing has changed with the economy.
I still see many empty storefronts.

[trebb]

Seeing more down here on the Gulf Coast too - more folks setting up under bridges or hanging tarps in wooded areas close to Walmart and other areas with drinking fountains and restrooms, etc. If you go on a pier early enough there will be some bikes and sleeping folks - I went to a self-serve car wash yesterday and an old Black man had his bike leaned up against the structure and was fast asleep on the blacktop - no blanket or anything.

On the bright side, unemployment is at its lowest point in years and it's far better than under any Republican President........(do I really need it?)

[Joe Boucher]

seems your ideas don’t work too well there obammy.