Costs When Homeless and Housed in Los Angeles

December 9^th, 2009

Where We Sleep: Costs When Homeless and Housed in Los Angeles has been published by the Economic Roundtable.

This report examines the public costs and benefits of housing people in L.A. County as opposed to having them be homeless. This study involves over 10,000 homeless adults in L.A. County. The report details the costs of homelessness (use of public agencies and services-such as Sheriff’s Office, paramedics, public health services, mental health services and outpatient services) as well as costs of formerly homeless people now living in supportive housing, and those receiving rent subsidies. The report is set against the backdrop and context of other studies across the nation that have documented cost savings in , moving homeless persons off the street and into stable housing. The costs are documented by gender, age, work experience, substance abuse history, race/ethnicity, and language and nativity status. Policy interventions are also recommended in the report.

Selected Findings:

• The average monthly cost for supportive housing residents is $605, compared to $2,897 for a person homeless/not housed. The savings for a supportive housing resident is therefore about $2,291 per person (pg. 26).
• The average monthly supportive housing costs of residents with a substance abuse problem are 50% higher than those without a substance abuse issue (pg. 27).
• The average costs savings for housing a person with a documented case of HIV/AIDS was $3,125 (pg. 25).
• More than two-thirds of the public savings (69%) due to housing someone in supportive housing comes from savings on health care related expenses [for example, the use of hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms] (pg. 2).

The 2009 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Report

November 16^th, 2009

The 2009 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Report was published in late October by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

This report is an examination of the 2009 Homeless Count conducted in L.A. County early this year. Included in the report are: demographics of the homeless population (age, race, ethnicity and family composition), the homeless population by geography, major metro areas, (Service planning areas, or SPAS), subpopulations (those with HIV, victims of domestic violence, veterans, those with mental illnesses), and more. Data from previous homeless counts are also shared, as well. This report focuses on specific geographies in L.A. County within the Continuum of Care. This system includes all of L.A. County with the exception of Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena.

Selected Findings:

• On any given night in Los Angeles County, there are about 48,000 homeless persons (pg. 1).
• More than half (58%) of the homeless persons counted on any given night were found in the City of Los Angeles (pg.1).
• About 10% of homeless persons are victims of domestic violence (pg. 10).
• About two thirds of homeless persons in L.A. County are unsheltered (pg. 7).
• Service planning area 4 (SPA 4, or Metro Los Angeles) has the highest numbers of homeless persons for any service planning area in L.A. County, with nearly a quarter of the county’s homeless population (pg. 7 ).

The Achievement Gap Begins Early: Study Finds Disparities in Child Outcomes Among Infants

A new Child Trends study commissioned by the Council of Chief State
School Officers finds disparities between poor, at-risk children and
more advantaged children as early as 9 months of age--extending prior
research that primarily focuses on disparities at kindergarten entry and
beyond. The study, /*Disparities in Early Learning and Development:
Lessons from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study--Birth Cohort
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102636715567&s=13130&e=001PhFZsMUojTKLxmtZQ8q6TZXIl1YcLYAhs4IlXXfbbpkhmA6DyqKcUdBq6xLKjbrAs1QWHlhTpAAyFHAXOPwELq04trp8mgly2YFMZ_q0ztyLtTnWvKPAnCKcsAdpXAi2vpMVQefR_Wf96T3SzwvtJ1ljeyqdB9LVnO9lcJEpnp7CCNWtsxK8mZfD8kaviQSQ>*/,
identifies low income and low maternal education as the factors most
strongly associated with poorer cognitive, social-emotional, and health
outcomes among very young children. It also finds that the more risk
factors a child has, the more profound the disparities.

Study highlights:

* Disparities by Family Income: Compared to their peers from
higher-income families, infants and toddlers from low-income
families score lower on cognitive assessments, are less likely to
be in excellent or very good health, and are less likely to
receive positive behavior ratings at both 9 and 24 months.
o Toddlers from lower-income families are also less likely to
have a secure attachment to their primary caregiver compared
to toddlers from higher-income families.
o Small effects were found for all outcomes at 9 months; these
effects were larger (moderate) by 24 months.
*
Disparities by Maternal Education: Compared to infants whose
mothers have a Bachelor's degree or higher, infants and toddlers
whose mothers have less than a high school degree score lower on
both cognitive and behavioral measures and they are also less
likely to be in excellent or very good health. Disparities are
typically small at 9 months, but become more pronounced at 24
months (moderate to large).
o
In addition, toddlers whose mothers have a Bachelor's degree
or higher are more likely to have a secure attachment to
their primary caregiver compared to toddlers whose mothers
have less education.

The study, based on a nationally representative sample of children born
in the U.S. in 2001, also includes implications for policy and practice.

New District Graduating Rate Map Tool

New District Graduating Rate Map Tool has been published by Edweek.

This new online interactive mapping tool allows one to pick any district in the U.S. and get data on: graduation rates (across 10 years- from1996-2006), demographics (race/ethnicity), free and reduced meal status (a proxy for poverty), attrition (grades at which students drop out or are left behind), and more.  Data comparison for local districts against the U.S. national average is also available.

Selected Findings:

• The high school graduation rate for LAUSD in 2006 was 47.7%--a two and a half percentage point decline over 10 years. For Pasadena, the graduation rate was 55.3%, and for Long Beach it was 61.3%.
• The majority of LAUSD high school students lost to attrition in 2006 occurred early on-about 43% were lost in the 9th grade and a full two thirds (at least 66%) were lost in the first two years of high school.
• About 77% of students in LAUSD were eligible for free or reduced price meal programs in 2006.
• Nearly 41% of LAUSD students were English language learners in 2006, compared to nearly 10% for the nation as a whole.

Common Good Forecaster, Exploring the Impact of Education in Your Community

Two new interactive websites on education and housing

Common Good Forecaster, Exploring the Impact of Education in Your Community has been created and developed by United Way and the American Human Development Project

This interactive site allows the user to see how differing levels of education (less than high school, high school, some college , college graduate and more) impacts other areas of well being, including health (life expectancy in years, low birth weight, obesity and homicide rate), financial stability (poverty, median personal earnings, unemployment), civic participation (voter turnout) and more. Data can be manipulated for each state and for states' counties.

Selected Features and Findings:

• Incarceration rates and 8th grade proficiency rates for each state.
• Downloadable data sets for each county for each state (includes all data for all indicators for health, financial stability, civic participation and educational achievement).
• Rates of voting for each state.
• State data can be compared to national averages, and county data can be compared to state averages.

W. Toby Hur, MSW
Field Education Faculty
UCLA School of Public Affairs
Department of Social Welfare
3250 Public Affairs Bldg.
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
(310) 825-9736
thur@spa.ucla.edu
www.spa.ucla.edu

The Strengths of Poor Families

                                                  

 

Family Routines and Relationships Strengthen Poor Families

Although poor families experience socioeconomic disadvantages, these families may be strengthened by their family routines and relationships, according to a new Child Trends brief.  The Strengths of Poor Families analyzes data for more than 100,000 families from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health to find the similarities and contrasts between poor and more affluent families. 

Among the findings: 

• Poor families do not differ from more affluent families in many ways, such as in the closeness of their relationships and the frequency of outings together or attending religious services.
• Poor families are at a disadvantage when it comes to having health and dental insurance, and are more likely to express concerns about their neighborhoods.  In addition, poor children have fewer stories read to them at home.
• While parents in poor households express concerns about neighborhood safety in general, they are just as likely to report feeling that their child is safe at home or at school as are parents who are better off.
• Families in poverty are somewhat more likely to eat meals together, a family routine that contributes to child well-being.

RELATED WORK FROM CHILD TRENDS:

 

Exploring The Links Between Family Strengths and Adolescent Outcomes (Child Trends Research Brief)

California City Dropout Profiles

California City Dropout Profiles has been published by the California Dropout Research Project at UC Santa Barbara.

This report examines the implications the dropout crisis has on 17 cities in California (including Pasadena, Los Angeles and Long Beach) by examining data from the 2006-2007 school year.  Implications of middle and high school students dropping out for various localities include violent crime (homicides and aggravated assaults), economic loss (lifetime losses to state and local governments, healthcare costs, loss of potential earnings by dropouts). In addition to 17 cities examined, California as a whole is compared.

Selected Findings:

• Over 123,000 students dropped out of California middle and high schools in the school year 2006-2007.
• Reducing the number of dropouts (in grades 7-12) by half in California would bring in a little over $12 billion dollars to the state in terms of economic benefits (mostly from lifetime earnings).
• About 12,367 students in the City of Los Angeles dropped out of middle and high schools in the school year 2006-2007.  For Pasadena the number was 329, and for Long Beach it was 1,835.
• If the number of students who dropped out (in grades 7-12) in the City of Los Angeles was reduced by half, then the city would see about 3,659 fewer violent crimes a year (in terms of aggravated assaults and homicides).  

Half a Million Older Californians Living Alone Unable to Make Ends Meet

March 9^th, 2009

Half a Million Older Californians Living Alone Unable to Make Ends Meet has been published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, in collaboration with Insight Center for Community Economic Development.

This policy brief examines how older Californians (age 65 and over) are faring in terms of economic security using the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index), which gauges how much is required for an older adult to live independently, taking into account the costs of food, housing, health care and transportation. Economic security is examined across race/ethnicity and across the 58 counties of California.

Selected Findings:

• In 2007, the average minimum income needed (for an economically secure standard of living as measured by the Elder Index) for a single older Californian who lived in a rented dwelling was $21,011 - roughly twice the federal poverty level (referenced on pg. 3).
• Close to half a million (495,000) older Californians (aged 65 and over) living alone did not have sufficient income to make ends meet in 2007 (referenced on pg. 1).
• More than half (54.4%) of older persons living alone in L.A. County (excluding L.A. City) were economically insecure in 2007 (referenced on pg. 4).
• In L.A. City, close to 60% of older persons living alone and more than one third (37%) older couples were, in 2007, economically insecure (referenced on pg. 4).
• At 67.1%, Imperial County had, in 2007, the highest proportion for the state of economically insecure older persons living alone (referenced on pg. 4).

L.A. Area Economic Forecast

February 23^rd , 2009

The 2009-2010 Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook
<http://contactbeacon.com/r.php?id=266449-810955> has been published by
the Kyser Center for Economic Research at the L.A. County Economic
Development Corporation.

This report details significant trends and projections for the economy
and major industries for the nation, California and the Southern
California region including L.A. County and the surrounding counties of
Orange, Riverside-San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego. Economic trends
and projections include jobs, job growth, unemployment rates, personal
income, (total and per capita), retail sales, housing permits, median
price of housing, GDP (gross domestic product, both national and local),
and more. Industry trends and projections include health services
(bio-medical and other services), aerospace (commercial and defense),
financial services, tourism, film, and more. Demographic trends are also
presented (population change and net migration) in California and
Southern California areas.

Selected Findings:

* The U.S. economy is projected to contract by 2.9% in 2009, and
grow by 1.5% in 2010 (referenced on pg. 2).
* In 2008, the GDP (gross domestic product) of L.A. County was $491
billion, which was greater than Norway ($481 billion), Greece
($373 billion), or Argentina ($338 billion) (referenced on pg. 20).
* In 2009, L.A. County's unemployment is forecasted to average 9.8%,
with the second half of the year seeing unemployment at 10% or
greater (referenced on pg. 28).
* The largest job losses in L.A. County in 2009 will come from:
retailing (-25,000 jobs), and manufacturing (-21,000 jobs), as
well as construction (-18,000 jobs) (referenced on pg. 28).
* Per capita personal income for L.A. County is expected to average
$37,104 in 2009 – reflecting a decline by 3.6% from the previous
year (referenced on pg. 29).

Los Angeles County 2008 Children’s Scorecard

Los Angeles County 2008 Children's Scorecard has been published by the Children's Council of L.A. County.

This report, produced by the Children's Council of L.A. County, assesses the state of children in L.A. County using several measures of well being. These measures of well being address health and safety (such as teen birth rates, health insurance coverage), economic well-being (rate of children supported by Cal Works, youth employed), social and emotional well-being (youth on probation, youth in foster care), and education/workforce readiness (rate of high school graduates college ready, educational attainment of mother/father). The Scorecard contains historical data going back to 2002. Finally, data is also broken down by service planning area (or SPA).

Selected Findings:

• More than 4,000 children 5 years old and under are homeless on any given night in L.A. County (referenced on pg. 4).
• More than a third of parents of preschool aged children in L.A. County have trouble finding childcare that is both affordable and suitable in quality (referenced on pg. 4).
• The percent of children watching 3 or more hours of television a day (in 2006) was the most for SPA 1 (Antelope Valley) at 28.6% and lowest for SPA 5 (West L.A.) at 12.9% (referenced on pg. 3).
• Teen birth rates (among females ages 10 -17) in L.A. County went in the years from 2002 to 2006- from 9.1 per 1,000 to 8.3 per 1,000 (referenced on pg. 2).
• The (2006) child obesity rate (in grades 5, 7 and 9) was greatest in SPA 6 (South L.A.) at 28.9% and least for SPA 5 (West L.A.) at 16.6% (referenced on pg. 3).
• In L.A. County, about 92% of public school teachers (in 2006) were fully credentialed (referenced on pg. 3).

A Profile of L.A.’s Poor in Turbulent Times

New Brief on Poverty
January 27^th, 2009

A Profile of L.A.'s Poor in Turbulent Times has been published by United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

This policy brief profiles the poor in L.A. County in the precarious balance between making ends meet and avoiding homelessness. Items examined include: people and families in extreme poverty (below half of the federal poverty threshold), public benefits participation (General Relief and Food Stamps), unemployment rates for L.A. County (including comparisons to the state of California), housing costs (growth in fair market rental rates, vs. median wages), increases in foreclosures and more.

Selected Findings:

• Over half a million people in L.A. County live in extreme poverty: Extreme poverty translates to:1 person earning less than $5,200 a year, or a family of four earning less than $10,600 a year (referenced on pg. 1).
• About 1 in 4 renters in L.A. County face extreme rent burden—paying 50% or more of their income on rent (referenced on pg. 4).
• In the first half of the decade (2000 to 2005), L.A. County Fair Market Rental Rates (defined as close to median rents) for 1 and 2 bedroom apartments grew 80 times greater than median wages in the County in the same period (referenced on pg. 3).
• Some areas of L.A. County (including areas in Montebello, Long Beach and Glendale) experienced a 1,000 percent or more increase in foreclosures last year (referenced on pg. 4).

Children's Report Card for California

Children's Report Card for California January 12th, 2009 2009 California Report Card has been published by Children Now This report examines key indicators that are vital to insure a decent quality of life for children in California. These indicators include health (such as mental health, adolescent health, health coverage), education (such as early care, K-12, after school), and integrative services (location and delivery of services, prevention of diseases such as obesity and public safety). The report evaluates the status of these key indicators using a school-report card model (i.e. grades of A, B, C, etc.). Also included are policy developments within the last year of 2008, as well as future policy objectives and priorities for some of the indicators discussed. Selected Findings: Working families in California (with two parent wage earners) need to earn 3 times the poverty level (about $72,300 a year) to afford an adequate quality of life for a child (to include childcare, education, insurance, food, etc.); yet one in two children live in families earning less than $70,000 in California (referenced on pg. 2). One in four children in families under the poverty line is at risk for depression, compared to one out of six children in families earning 3 times or more above the poverty line (referenced on pg. 13). Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children (aged 10-18) in California (referenced on pg. 13). More than two-thirds (69%) of students who dropped out of high school in California in 2007 were Latino or African-American (referenced on pg. 25). About 50% of 8th graders in California are enrolled in Algebra (compared to just about 33% in 2003) (referenced on pg. 26).