Sheltering L.A. County's homeless could save taxpayer money, study finds

Finding permanent housing for Los Angeles County's homeless population rather than allowing them to continue living on the streets could save taxpayer money, according to a study released today by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

The four-year study followed four homeless people while they lived on the streets and later as they found stable housing. Researchers concluded that taxpayers could save $20,000 a year per person in public services. There were an estimated 73,000 homeless in L.A. County last year.

Elise Buik, president and chief executive of the local United Way, said they also looked at other cities that have reduced homelessness and found that permanent housing was the key.

“We always need to be very prudent with our public dollars, and for legislators to see this is a cost-effective model helps build the case that this is an effective model,” Buik said.

The study followed four chronically homeless people: A 52-year-old white woman, a 58-year-old white man, a 32-year-old Latino man and a 61-year-old black man. It took into account drug abuse, physical health, mental health, criminal justice and housing.

Once they were placed in stable housing, they each became less dependent on public services. Emergency room visits went from 19 among all of them to one, and rehab stints went from six total to none, according to the study. Incarcerations were eliminated, the study found.

“Once you find them housing, they do lead stable lives,” Buik said. “One of the things we’re trying to do is take away the stigma and show that people can go on to lead productive lives.”

-- Raja Abdulrahim

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Comments

[andreau8]

Where are they going to live? With the people who did the study? It is the age old problem - nobody wants the "homeless" by them!

[Elizabeth]

So LA would presumably save 1,460,000,000 dollars per year? 1.4 BILLION? I find this figure hard to believe. In addition, a study with 4 subjects hardly seems empirical.

Certainly the assumption makes logical sense, but this study seems to be skewed.

[Stephen]

I wish that could be true, however United Way seems to be forgetting that among the 35% percent mentally ill of the homeless population, thousands would not accept an offer of housing assistance due to their phobias and mental state. I have worked in downtown Los Angeles for 2 decades and realize the homeless problem is more than a problem of dislocation or medical treatment. For the cronic homeless whom I have seen on their corners year after year, and decade after decade, a different approach is needed other than just a roof over their head and medicines that they do not want. For this group, it is a quality of life issue that we can't relate to. Whatever trauma or events that caused them to seek out a life without obligations or responsibilities, they choose it. We make shrink the homeless problem, but we will never get rid of it.

[Stephen]

The amount of money wasted by our government is criminal. The US continues to give taxpayer money to foreign governments that hate Americans. Obama pledged 900 million to rebuild Gaza. The US pledged 50 BILLION to treat AIDS in Africa. The US gives away more than 100 BILLION in foreign aid annually to more than 150 countries. Israel, Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Lebanon are just a few. How can you justify giving away American taxpayer money to foreigners when American citizens are suffering? There are more than 15 million Americans unemployed and struggling to feed their families. More than 35 million Americans go hungry daily. Americans are losing their jobs and homes yet our government continues to import 1.5 million foreign workers annually. There are traitors in our government that don't care about this country or its people. Vote out ALL incumbents and take back our country. WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Monica]

The headline for this article should be "Housing L.A. County's Homeless Could Save Taxpayer Money" not "Sheltering." There is a difference between sheltering someone and housing them.

I commend the United Way and Elise Buik for publishing this important study. Permanent supportive housing is truly the way to end homelessness in L.A. County!