The percentage of people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County rose to the single digits, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s latest homeless count.
However, for Latinos, that number increased by 26%, now making up about 44.5% of the unhoused population.
“The city and the county are going to have to do some deep consideration about why that number has increased so significantly,” said Shayla Myers, senior attorney at Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, which helps tenants stay housed through resources and legal support. “It’s important to note that Latino homelessness has been on the rise for years.”
According to the latest data, homelessness among most racial or ethnic groups dropped, except among Latinos and those who identify as multiracial (Non-Hispanic/Latino.)
Latino homelessness increased across the state. In San Francisco, it rose by 55% from 2019 to 2022. In Sacramento County, over the same time frame, it went up 87%. And San Diego County saw it jump by 29% from 2020 to 2022.
Alarmed by the growth in Los Angeles, the county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion requesting that the county study how gaps in the social services system could be contributing to the growing number of unhoused Latinos.
But, ironically, the Board will hold a meeting today Tuesday to approve the activation of the evictions as of December 1, which will impact the Latino community.
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