Overview

A recent study by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools indicates a significant rise in student homelessness within Los Angeles County. The analysis reveals a 30% increase in homelessness among K–12 students from the 2022–23 school year to the 2023–24 school year.

Approximately 61,249 students in the county faced homelessness during the current school year, a figure that far surpasses the statewide increase of 16% in California. Factors contributing to this crisis include a shortage of housing and economic instability.

Key details

  • Student homelessness in Los Angeles County rose by 30% between the 2022–23 and 2023–24 school years.
  • In the 2023–24 school year, an estimated 61,249 students experienced homelessness.
  • The increase in Los Angeles County significantly exceeds the 16% rise seen across California.
  • Mayra Cazares-Minero, a research analyst at UCLA, highlights the challenges of housing access amid expiring funding and policies.
  • The research briefs detail higher rates of homelessness among Latino and Black youth.
  • Homeless students show increased rates of chronic absenteeism and dropout rates.
  • Norwalk–La Mirada Elementary School District has nearly one in three students unhoused.
  • Three of the five districts with the highest rates of homelessness are located in the San Gabriel Valley.
  • A second study explores the challenges faced by school staff in identifying and supporting homeless students.
  • Barriers to identification include stigma, fear of repercussions, and confusion about eligibility.
  • Fragmented data systems complicate the verification and coordination of services for homeless students.
  • Joseph Bishop, executive director of the UCLA center, notes that homelessness is concentrated in specific regions, influenced by local factors.

Context

The findings underscore a growing concern regarding youth homelessness in Los Angeles County, revealing disparities among different demographic groups and highlighting systemic issues that hinder support for affected students.

What happens next

Further analysis at the county and district levels is necessary to understand the full scope of the crisis and to develop targeted strategies aimed at effectively addressing the needs of homeless students.

What we don't know yet

Details on specific policies that may be expiring and the exact nature of the barriers faced by families in the identification process remain unconfirmed.