LAHSA Holds Panel on Rise of Latino Homelessness
On Nov. 17, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA, hosted a panel via Zoom about the rise of Latino homelessness in LA County. The panel discussed how low wages, the pandemic, the language barrier and misinformation about services led to a 26% increase in homelessness among Latinos in the county from 2020 to 2022, according to the most recent homeless count.
Marina Genchev, LAHSA associate director in systems of planning, said that Latinos are the largest demographic group in the county, making up about 49% of the population. There are about the same number of homeless Latinos proportionally, as they represent 44% of the homeless population.
“The pandemic, we know, has deepened California’s chronic economic housing inequalities for low-income and people of color Hispanics, particularly the Hispanic/Latinx population,” Genchev said.
Genchev said that the Latino homeless population also increased between 2019 and 2020, by 12%.
“Things are increasing and getting worse,” Genchev said. “This is something we want to pay attention to and respond to quickly.”
As of the 2022 homeless count, there are 28,945 homeless Latinos in the county. Of that number, 27% are in shelters.
The vast majority of homeless Latinos are adults, with 96% being over the age of 25. Homeless Latino veterans and seniors increased as well between 2020 and 2022.
Genchev said that 63% of homeless Latinos have been homeless for less than a year, as well as a 20% increase in Latino adults being homeless for the first time.
“This is a new problem,” Genchev said. “This is a recent problem; this is a growing problem.”
Vanessa Sedano, managing director of The Whole Child, a nonprofit that provides housing to families, said economic hardship is a big reason for the rise in Latino homelessness.
“We have seen people trickling in that historically would not use the system,” Sedano said. “Those are people that are being impacted by employment loss, due to working for momand-pop companies that are no longer open due to the COVID [pandemic].”
Sedano said there are also people who were being paid cash under the table, and they would not be able to apply for unemployment benefits.
Sedano’s organization is trying to reach out to people on the verge of homelessness and let them know about available services before they are evicted.
Genchev said there are several barriers to connecting Latino homeless people with housing or other services. One is the language barrier, some do not feel comfortable using seeking services if they aren’t in their preferred language.
“There might be cultural stigma around seeking help, or seeking assistance, especially when it comes to homelessness or mental health or substance abuse,” Genchev said. “Immigration status is another thing that can definitely cause fear and nervousness in seeking services, as well as a number of other reasons, like lack of understanding, lack of knowledge, lack of trust.”
Milagros Lopez, program manager at the Council District 8 navigation center, said a lot of people don’t know where or how to reach out for help. In addition, disabilities and poor health can also make accessing services more difficult.
Hazel Lopez, senior director of the coordinated entry system and community engagement at the People Concern, said that Latinos on the verge of homelessness often are misinformed, and think they will not qualify for resources because of their legal status. However, in the City of Los Angeles, there are resources that are available regardless.
“We have programs that are federallyfunded, and those that are funded by the city,” Hazel Lopez said. “And those that are federally
funded have eligibility or criteria that oftentimes undocumented folks are unable to access, but those programs or resources funded by the city don’t have such strict criteria. But without that education piece, and the general public not really knowing that, this population in particular, is the one that gets adversely impacted.”
Milagros Lopez said she was living in the United States for 30 years before Donald Trump was elected president. Because of the fear of deportation, she obtained her citizenship shortly afterwards.
“When I did my citizenship, I was told by the instructor that that was the biggest graduating class, for so many reasons,” Milagros Lopez said. “And that was because of the fear of losing status, of not being able to provide by being sent back to their countries. So I believe that the policies that were put in place, and the limited access to the resources to the non-citizens, caused this disconnect.”
Sedano said some were afraid to apply for benefits because they thought it would impact their ability to attain citizenship.
“People are in fear of applying for benefits because they’re in fear that if this country gives you something, that means that you’re a burden, and that you won’t be able to apply for immigration status,” Sedano said.
However, Sedano did say there are times it is difficult to find services that people who are not documented qualify for.
“There’s a stigma … Latinos are eating up all our funding, through the state, through the federal,” Sedano said. “It is not true. There is so much money that goes back to the state and the federal government because it’s not being utilized.”
Sedano said the biggest reason for Latinos becoming homeless is poverty.
“The gap between the fair market wage and the area median income and the wages that they’re making is tremendous,” Sedano said. “When people come in sometimes … there are situations that can be quickly fixed, and the problem is they just can’t pay their rent. The gap between the wages is just so drastic.”
Sedano said she can give them services, but the type of employment they have will never allow them to live out of crisis.
“How do we provide higher wage opportunities?” Sedano said. “Right now, our program is piloting a very small [program], focusing on robust employment services.”
Her program will try to provide them with employment opportunities that will pay them at least $26 an hour.
“You’re a flat tire way from homelessness every month,” Sedano said. “That brings trauma, that’s crisis every month.”
Sedano said she would like to see more Latino representation in government. Ten years ago, there were no decision-makers that looked like her, or the people they were serving.
“When you’re trying to really bring robust services that are really tailored to service this population, it becomes really difficult when people that are decision-makers can’t connect with us, and don’t understand our language.”
However, there is some good news. Genchev said that since 2020, there has been a 2% increase each year in the number of homeless adults finding permanent housing after going to temporary housing. LAHSA has improved in getting them connected with the documents they need for permanent housing.
“We’re also working closely with the county office of immigrant affairs to address undocumented homelessness, and to launch an initiative focused on Hispanic/Latinx homelessness,” Genchev said.