The cost of housing in California is a leading cause to homelessness statewide, according to a study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), released by the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, is the largest representative study of homelessness since the mid-1990s.
Using surveys and in-depth interviews, researchers sought to better understand the causes of homelessness in California as 30 percent of the nation's homeless population and half of the unsheltered population currently live there. While the growing rate of homelessness in California has previously been attributed to individuals from other states migrating to California, UCSF’s study showed that was not the case.
“The results of the study confirm that far too many Californians experience homelessness because they cannot afford housing,” said Margot Kushel, M.D., director, UCSF BHHI and principal investigator of CASPEH, in a statement. “Through thousands of survey responses and hundreds of in-depth interviews, the study’s findings reflect the incalculable personal costs of homelessness. Our policy recommendations aim to inform solutions to the homelessness crisis.”
Key findings include:
- Ninety percent of participants lost their last housing in California, and 75 percent live in the same county where their housing was located.
- The average length of homelessness among participants was 22 months.
- The homeless population is aging— 47 percent of homeless adults are age 50 and older.
- More than one-third (36 percent) of participants met federal criteria for chronic homelessness.
- Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by homelessness due to structural racism.
- Many participants reported a period in their life where they experienced a serious mental health condition (82 percent) or regular use of illicit drugs (65 percent) or heavy drinking (62 percent).
- Experiences with stress and trauma at some point in their lifetime were also common among participants, including physical violence (72 percent) and sexual violence (24 percent).
“As we drive toward addressing the health and housing needs of Californian’s experiencing homelessness, this study reinforces the importance of comprehensive and integrated supports,” said Mark Ghaly, M.D., secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, in a statement. “California is taking bold steps to address unmet needs for physical and behavioral health services, to create a range of housing options that are safe and stable, and to meet people where they are at. We are grateful for the voices of those who participated in this study, as they will help guide our approach.”
Based on the findings, the research team made policy recommendations to address homelessness throughout California. Their top six recommendations are to:
- Increase access to affordable housing for individuals making less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income by supporting and expanding initiatives such as low-income housing tax credits, housing choice vouchers, housing navigation services, and anti-discrimination laws.
- Expand homelessness prevention efforts such as financial support or legal assistance in social services agencies, health care settings, domestic violence services, and community organizations for leaseholders and non-leaseholders, as well as at institutional exits from jails and prisons. Eviction protections should also be expanded and strengthened.
- Improve behavioral health supports by increasing access to low-barrier mental health, substance use, and harm reduction services during periods of homelessness and provide permanent supportive housing.
- Boost household incomes with employment supports such as training and transportation resources.
- Increase outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them with necessary resources.
- Establish a racial equity approach in all areas of homeless system service delivery.
