Homelessness in Los Angels. Social Sciences Research Paper

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Homelessness in Los Angels
Homelessness has become an emergency issue in Los Angeles since the number of people living in makeshift shelters, vehicles and tents have risen in the recent years. Ninety five percent of the voters in Los Angeles referred to the issue as being very serious according to a poll conducted by the Los Angeles Time. The Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) points out that the total number of homeless people increased from 39461 to 44359 in 2013 and 2014 respectively, which is equal to 12.4% increase. This is a crisis which requires an urgent and coordinated response from all stakeholders such as, the county itself, surrounding cities and partners in the community within the region. A lot of families are spending their nights in places that are not meant for human to live in with a total of not less than 5800 residents of Los Angeles experiencing homelessness (Bassuk et. al, 2018).
The issue of homelessness in Los Angeles is contributed by forces such as, stagnant wages, high rents and less number of affordable houses. The implications deserve declaration of a statewide state of emergency since it has contributed to moral expense to the community and the region at large. Moreover, homelessness contributes to deaths of individuals. More than 900 homeless people died on the streets last year and the number ought to increase this year. Though Los Angeles faces this acute crisis, nationally other states are experiencing similar trends. This is majorly contributed by unaffordable housing programs and facilities that deal with mental issues. In a recent study conducted by Bassuk, showed that homelessness is increasing in areas with unaffordable rental housing facilities such as New York, Washington DC and San Francisco. Statistically, the study continues to show that a number exceeding 552,830 individuals were homeless in America in a given night that is 17 people in every 10000 people (Bassuk, 2016).
Although it is a complicated challenge that contains problems that are deeply rooted and require bold and creative solutions at various levels, it can be solved and be totally forgotten. There is a direct relationship between a reduction in the availability of housing facilities and an increase in the number of people without houses. Los Angeles has encountered a loss in low income dwellings due to slow replacement of housing facilities that have been lost in the process of decay and renewal, such as, fires, demolition, abandonment and conversion. Moreover, the number of low-income housing facilities has reduced hence the relative prices of the remaining housing units has increased dramatically hence rendering many people homeless since they can’t afford to pay for the rent. Disproportionality in the share of the residents of Los Angeles income is the major contribution of this factor. Additionally, homelessness in Los Angeles is directly related to overcrowding in housing facilities. In some situations, more than one family live in a housing facility meant to accommodate only one family. Therefore, stress exists in the arrangement and tensions is produced in the relationships of people living together leading to individuals being displaced and end up finding the...