The recent count of unhoused individuals in Los Angeles County, released by city and county officials in July, was framed as a success story.
Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who recently stepped down as head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), highlighted efforts made over the past two years to bring people indoors.
However, amidst this positive outlook, significant challenges remain for families and children, particularly those living on the streets.
Data analyzed by LAist indicate that the number of unsheltered children and teens under 18 rose nearly 22% this year, climbing from 1,558 to 1,897.
Additionally, the number of unsheltered families with children surged by 18%, increasing from 903 to 1,067.
Overall, the count of families with children—both sheltered and unsheltered—grew by 6%, from 3,520 to 3,728.
Although LAHSA claims these increases are not statistically significant, they remain troubling as the agency is unable to show any progress in reducing child homelessness.
There is another concerning trend: among unsheltered families, the number of individuals per family increased by 22%, indicating that larger families are facing displacement.
While the overall unsheltered homelessness rate in the county has decreased—by 9.5% this year and 14% over the last two years—the unique situation of families with children appears to be worsening.
Providers in the field have also acknowledged the growing necessity to assist families, noting an uptick in households led by both parents.
Kelvin Driscoll, interim co-director at HOPICS, a homeless service provider in South Los Angeles, explained that placing larger families becomes complicated.
Rooms typically have occupancy limits of three to four individuals, often forcing families to separate.
Driscoll posed critical questions regarding the situation: “Do they want to stay together? Are the rooms close to each other? How close is the school?”
Such complexities are less pronounced for single adults, making the plight of families distinct.
Organizations like Para Los Niños, which offers early educational services, have seen a substantial rise in unhoused students, reflecting the broader struggles faced by families.
Jimmy Urizar, vice president of community and student services at Para Los Niños, emphasized the increasing struggles families are experiencing.
A dire shortage of larger housing units exacerbates the situation, with most available units being one-bedroom apartments.
Sasha Morozov, regional director for PATH, stated, “Our homelessness response system was originally designed around single adults—not families.”
This misalignment has left many families with insufficient services and resources that are increasingly scarce.
In recent years, city and county authorities have focused on initiatives aimed at clearing encampments and directing individuals into shelters through programs such as Inside Safe and Pathway Home.
However, families often do not reside in encampments; they frequently find themselves living in cars, particularly near schools.
Katie Hill, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, pointed out that this shift in focus has inadvertently sidelined families.
Her organization has reportedly turned away over 700 families since December due to capacity issues, highlighting the dire circumstances many are facing.
“Motel vouchers are really drying up,” Hill noted.
She also mentioned a pause on accepting new families for a rent subsidy program called time-limited subsidies, stating, “The need is just astronomical.”
Concerns over funding losses are mounting as service providers face a staggering 71% cut in state support aimed at helping families in LAHSA’s budget for the year.
Morozov from PATH emphasized the repercussions: as fewer families secure housing, the number living unsheltered will continue to rise.
She remarked, “It’s becoming a snowball effect. Where else are families going to go?”
Economic pressures are pushing families into homelessness, and providers have noted an alarming trend of families facing homelessness for the first time.
Hill observed, “What we’ve been seeing is a steady increase as the cost of housing continues to marginalize more families.”
A recent survey revealed that 70% of families with children under six struggle to meet basic needs like housing or food.
At two of Para Los Niños’ Head Start schools, there has been at least a 50% increase in unhoused students over the past year compared to the previous year.
Urizar summed up the situation, acknowledging the uphill battle that families are facing in a challenging housing market.
There exists an urgent need for reassessment and intervention to combat the growing crisis of family homelessness in Los Angeles County.
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