les and Metro Los Angeles have the greatest number of homeless people, but there are diminishing but still significant percentages in San Gabriel Valley, South Bay, San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley, East Los Angeles, and the West side. There are a higher percentage of homeless families in South Los Angeles and South Bay, single individuals in the Metro and South Los Angeles regions, and youth in Hollywood.
Among the homeless population in Los Angeles County, African-Americans are disproportionately represented. Whites, Latinos, and Asians are underrepresented. Most homeless people in Los Angeles County are from Los Angeles and were originally housed in or near the community in which they are homeless. Some one-third to one-half of homeless people are women and girls, but men represent about three-quarters of the single population (Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty, 2004).
Other data provided about the homeless in Los Angeles County by the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty (2004) include the following:
homeless youth in Los Angeles County are likely to have dropped out of high school
prior to becoming homeless, 75 to 90 percent were poor
25 percent of all homeless people are likely to have
been victims of childhood sexual abuse
substance abuse by single homeless individuals in
Los Angeles County ranges from one-third to two-thirds of that population and is higher among unaccompanied
homeless youth and single individuals
Studies indicate that one-third to two-thirds of
single individuals have been homeless for more than a
year and that many such individuals experience repeated incidences of homelessness.
Despite their need for services, many homeless adolescents are highly resistant to traditional outreach services. Unger, et al (1997) stated that these youth tend to display a characteristic pattern of acting out and avoiding health services cau...