Living in Los Angeles County comes with its own set of unique health challenges. From the high number of homeless people to the lack of affordable housing, it is essential for residents to take preventative steps to stay healthy. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) estimates that more than 40 percent of the homeless population in Los Angeles are considered chronically homeless. This means that they have been continuously homeless for a year or more, have had at least four different episodes of homelessness in the past three years, and have a disabling condition.
If this ratio holds, more than 10,000 children could become homeless by 2028. In response to this crisis, the county has allocated a considerable amount of funding to build affordable housing units. This includes initiatives such as Proposition HHH, permanent housing from the Homeless Initiative, permanent housing from LAHSA, and housing development initiatives from the Los Angeles County Development Authority. However, implementing solutions for the homeless in Los Angeles County can be complicated by a support ecosystem that is unique in its number of service providers and contracts, its distributed decision-making authority, and its high employee turnover. In order to stay healthy in Los Angeles County, it is important to take preventative measures such as drinking clean water, getting vaccinated, and educating yourself about health. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the unique challenges faced by the county and to support initiatives that are working towards providing affordable housing and other resources for those who are homeless.
