More than 9 in 10 Los Angeles County residents say homelessness is a pressing issue, and 64% feel its impact in their neighborhoods, according to the latest findings from the USC Dornsife annual LABarometer survey about living and affordability in LA

Two-thirds of county residents see a homeless person daily, while 1 in 5 know someone who is homeless. In addition, almost 10% (1 million) have themselves experienced homelessness at some point in their lives.

The survey also highlights the solutions Angelenos support to address homelessness and highlights how residents are coping with rising rents and financial pressures. Less than half feel satisfied with their current financial situation.

The survey was conducted by the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and was done in collaboration with the USC Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI), a joint venture of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Preferred solutions to homelessness vary

Angelenos widely support the construction of housing at reasonable prices and the expansion of mental health services to address the homelessness crisis, but their preferred strategies often differ based on social and economic status.

For example, homeowners are much less likely than renters to support policies such as affordable housing, vouchers, and rent control. Homeowners, on the other hand, are more likely than renters to support camp sweeps.

The breakdown looks like this: Renters are 20% more likely to favor rent control than homeowners, while homeowners are 6% more likely than renters to support encampment sweeps. But both groups are more likely to support sweeps when they perceive homelessness as a problem in their neighborhood

“The gap between renters and homeowners on how to tackle the homelessness crisis highlights how economic status shapes people’s priorities,” said Kyla Thomas, director of the LABarometer at CESR.

When all participants were asked to prioritize their top three approaches to reducing homelessness, there was no clear consensus:

• 54% prefer mental health and drug treatment
• 47% support rent control
• 42% support building affordable housing

Perceived causes of homelessness depend on experience

What are the main causes of homelessness? Opinions differ depending on who has experienced it. Among Angelenos who have experienced homelessness:

• 90% cite the high housing costs as an important reason
• 42% cite racism and discrimination as an important reason

Among those who have never lived on the streets, 76% cite housing costs and 29% cite racism and discrimination as the main reasons.

A large majority (85%) of both groups perceive mental illness and substance abuse as important contributing factors, although the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s 2024 Homeless Count found that only a quarter of homeless adults reported a serious mental illness or substance use disorder.

“It’s surprising mental health and addiction is more recognized as a driver of homelessness than housing affordability,” said Jared Schachner, researcher at the USC Homelessness Policy Research Institute. “This underscores the need to better educate the public about the structural factors that contribute to homelessness. .”

Those who had previously been homeless were 13 percentage points more likely to cite racism and discrimination as major contributors to homelessness than those who had not. Notably, 21% of black respondents say they have been homeless at some point in their lives, the highest percentage of any racial group surveyed.

“These findings highlight the connection between racism and poverty in LA County. LA’s homelessness problem is both a cause and a consequence of longstanding racial injustices,” said Thomas. She noted that these differences persist, even when income and education levels are taken into account.

Housing challenges remain in LA County

As Angelenos grapple with pervasive homelessness, many also struggle with high rents. The average rent in Los Angeles is 39% above the national average, according to Apartments.com. Among residents who have moved in the past 12 months, 29% say they were forced to move because of rising rents, a significant increase from 20% in 2023 and just 13% in 2022.

Despite rising rents, most residents plan to stay put. Only 8% of respondents said they plan to move to a new home in LA County in the next year, although 29% of respondents wish they could move elsewhere in LA

Only 2% of Angelenos plan to move from LA in the next year, although 24% of respondents wish they could leave. But among those planning to leave LA, 27% said they don’t have a strong desire to move, suggesting they may be priced out or move for reasons unrelated to housing preference.

To assess the extent of residential instability among adults, respondents were asked if they had spent a month or more in an unstable living situation – such as couch surfing, living in a hotel, living in a car, living in a shelter or being on the streets. About 23% said they had experienced housing insecurity at some point in their lives.

Amidst these challenges, the survey reveals some bright spots:

• Food insecurity has decreased from 16% last year to 13%
• 66% of residents state that they are satisfied with their district
• 62% are satisfied with their lives overall