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Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA LPPI Study Sheds Light on Rising Homelessness Crisis Among Latinos in Los Angeles County

The report reveals an escalating disaster in the aftermath of COVID-19 and amid the neverending housing affordability crisis, echoing a disturbing national trend.

LOS ANGELES (December 13, 2023) – The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) has released an alarming new report, The Full Spectrum of Latinx Homelessness: Understanding and Addressing Doubling Up, which reveals a significant rise in homelessness among Latinos, marking an 8% increase nationally and a 26% increase in Los Angeles County between 2020 and 2022. This report comes at a critical time when the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic and health repercussions continue to severely affect Latino households. 

The new report is authored by UCLA LPPI expert Dr. Melissa Chinchilla, project scientist at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Dr. Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, assistant professor at Michigan State University School of Planning, Design, and Construction, and Dr. Molly Richard, a postdoctoral scholar at Boston University’s Center for Innovation in Social Science. 

The research highlights the high prevalence of “doubled-up homelessness” in the Latino community, where individuals share housing due to economic hardship or housing loss. Latinos are three times more likely to experience this form of homelessness compared to non-Latinos. Moreover, in Los Angeles County, the number of individuals experiencing doubled-up homelessness was 3.5 times the number of those in traditional forms of homelessness (i.e., unsheltered and sheltered), with Latinos accounting for 77% of all doubled-up individuals. The authors note ongoing challenges in accessing homeless services for Latinos, including cultural stigma, language barriers, and issues related to immigration status.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted the Latino community in Los Angeles County, exacerbating their housing challenges,” said Dr. Chinchilla. “However, even before COVID-19, many Latinos had been driven into ‘doubled-up homelessness,’ a hidden yet pervasive form of homelessness where individuals are forced to share housing due to economic constraints. The issue often remains unseen because it doesn’t manifest in public spaces like streets or shelters. This invisibility masks the true scale of the problem, making it far more extensive than many realize.”

The authors conducted qualitative interviews with service providers and policy advocates. These interviews were aimed at gaining insights into the challenges faced by the Latino community in accessing homeless services, including issues related to cultural stigma, language barriers, and immigration status. This qualitative approach complemented the quantitative data analysis, providing a more nuanced understanding of the homelessness issue as it pertains to the Latino population in Los Angeles County.

Dr. Richard noted, “In order to address the rising rates of Latino homelessness, we need to address issues at the program, system, and policy levels.” The brief urges action and outlines key recommendations for addressing the crisis at both program and policy levels, including:

Program and system-level Recommendations:

• Implement methods to accurately track and measure instances of doubled-up homelessness, which is currently underrepresented in homelessness statistics.
• Encourage and support community organizing in Latino communities and other communities of color to address the unique challenges they face.
• Establish communication campaigns aimed at combating the cultural stigma around homelessness and mental health within Latino communities.
• Actively engage with a variety of community organizations, including legal aid, immigrant rights groups, and health centers, to provide comprehensive support.
• Increase training for service providers to enhance their understanding of the resources available to homeless individuals, regardless of their citizenship status.
• Ensure that services offered to the homeless are culturally and linguistically appropriate, particularly for the Latino community.

Policy-level recommendations include:

• Advocate for housing and financial assistance programs that use expanded definitions of homelessness, including individuals and families experiencing doubled-up homelessness.
• Use alternative metrics, such as census data, to better understand and address the resource needs of those experiencing doubled-up homelessness.
• Develop and enhance resources and support systems to address homelessness, ensuring that these resources are available irrespective of an individual’s citizenship status.
• Facilitate easier access to the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for immigrants and refugees.
• Continue and increase funding for affordable housing initiatives and protections for tenant rights.
• Lead efforts to ensure that individuals receive a living wage and are protected against wage theft, which can be a contributing factor to housing insecurity.

“The rise in homelessness among Latinos, particularly in Los Angeles County, is a stark call to action,” said Dr. Nevárez Martinez. “The report not only illuminates the severity of this crisis but also offers a detailed roadmap for inclusive and effective solutions. We strongly urge policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to adopt the recommendations listed in the report. By doing so, we can all work together towards making cities across the United States more equitable and just places for all communities.”

Read the full report here.

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI):

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu.