The models, developed by the California Policy Lab and the University of Chicago Poverty Lab, used data on Los Angeles County residents receiving county services between 2012 and 2016 to try to identify residents at the highest risk of becoming homeless. Researchers found that nearly half of those identified actually became homeless in 2017.
The individuals identified were 27 times more likely to become homeless than the average person receiving county services.
A workgroup of policy makers and other stakeholders submitted a homeless prevention action plan based on the model to the Board of Supervisors on Monday, Dec. 16, and expect to carry out their recommendations beginning next year. A total of $3 million in Measure H funding has been earmarked for initial implementation.
“Last year, despite providing housing to tens of thousands of people, we saw more and more individuals and families becoming homeless,” said Phil Ansell, the director of Los Angeles County’s Homeless Initiative. “L.A. County is focused on using strategic approaches to preventing homelessness, and these groundbreaking models will make it possible to reach those who need us the most before they reach the crisis point and fall into homelessness.”
Officials said the county is placing roughly 133 people per day into housing, while 150 fall into homelessness daily.
Tactics of the plan include:
— working with lists of residents countywide who are receiving food stamps and forms of cash aid, either from the county or through CalWORKS, to identify those most likely to become homeless;
— exploring piloting a homeless prevention unit to package services for those at highest risk;
— refining child welfare intake procedures to prompt more families to sign up for prevention programs; and
— considering outreach to transition-age foster youth at risk of homelessness.
Intervening at the right moment can keep people from falling into homelessness, experts said.
“Predictive modeling can help ensure that homelessness prevention services are getting to the right people, at the right time, before they’re in a full-blown crisis,” said Janey Rountree, executive director of the California Policy Lab at UCLA.
A University of Chicago researcher said there are common warning signs.
“The models suggest that sharp spikes in service use, increasingly frequent service use, and the receipt of multiple services from a single agency are all warning signs that someone living in deep poverty is at high risk for homelessness,” said Harold Pollack, the Helen Ross Professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. “We’re now diving deeper into the models with our L.A. County partners to learn more and to see how these results can help focus public health and social services to this vulnerable population.”
More information on the models can be found at https://www.capolicylab.org/predicting-preventing-homelessness-la/.
Rex is a failed mayor says
You’ve heard of “gated communities” haven’t you? Wonder if someday there will be “gated shopping centers/public places”
You’d have to pay a $1 to get in to shop and since you are on private property, the owner can enforce rules more strictly.
For a not perfect example, I don’t think the interior of the Antelope Valley Mall has homeless people sleeping in the corridors like a public place such as the blvd.
It’s not a pretty future. The richest most powerful country can’t solve a problem like homelessness. What is in the way?
The Plutes says
We need data driven models to tell us the plutocrats have completely taken over the economy. A 3 year old should be able to see what’s going on. Pure stall tactics designed to maintain the status quo.
Mark says
All we need is to elect more liberals. That will solve the problem.
The Liberal Conservative says
I am not sure liberals are the entire problem or have a solution. Here in Lancaster we have an explosion of homelessness, yet our so-called conservative Republican mayor is telling people to arm themselves without gun permits and shoot the homeless if they rob you. He then suggests that mentally ill people are shooting sheriffs and causes a panic in the city. Before that he took a million dollars from the county for a homeless shelter and then shut it down. His latest answer to the problem is to stop people from feeding the poor and homeless.
I am sure the far right would embrace his tough stance, but it clearly is not working. Just walk down the BLVD sometime. Make sure you bring some change to hand out before you go. Or if you have it in your heart, bring some food or a blanket to share with one of the homeless our mayor despises.
I love FL says
Data research?? They gotta be kidding, there is nothing to investigate, all they have to do is enforce existing law! Lock up drug dealers, prosecute those who use a sidewalk as a toilet! This is it! Plenty of jobs everywhere, absolutely no excuse for anyone to be on the street.
Ignacio P. says
Quit handing over jobs to illegals, quit “must be bi lingual” for positions and quit coddling drug users!
AV Illegal says
Another high dollar research project that will make someone’s friend money and do nothing to solve any problem. I am glad they are looking to a professor in Chicago for advice. They have really cleaned up over there.