Study Notes on Los Angeles Homelessness Crisis

The article discusses the historical context and evolution of homelessness in Los Angeles (L.A.).
Written by Mitchell Landsberg and Gale Holland, published on July 10, 2025.
Sources include reports from various archives including the Los Angeles Times.

Steve Richardson, a teenager in the late 1970s, worked near L.A.'s Skid Row.
- Witnessed transformation as homeless individuals began to create makeshift shelters using empty toy boxes, known as "cardboard condos."
- Noted the increasing visibility of homelessness, highlighted by Art Seidenbaum's observations of scavenging in garbage cans.

Historically, the term "homeless" pertained primarily to individuals displaced by natural disasters or war.
In the 1970s, the context began to shift to include a broader range of societal issues.
- Homelessness in contemporary L.A. is notably a part of urban life alongside traffic and commercial areas.

L.A. County boasts a homeless population exceeding 75,000 individuals as of 2023.
- This number surpasses the total population of 15 counties in California.
- Comparatively, the space of Dodger Stadium would not be sufficient to accommodate all homeless individuals in L.A.

Categorically claims the root cause of L.A.'s homelessness isn’t innate environmental factors, but rather a result of specific public policies.
A historical analysis reveals that systematic homelessness was previously witnessed during the Great Depression and post-World War II housing shortages.

Key triggers leading to increased homelessness:
- Scarcity of affordable housing highlighted as the primary issue, contrary to common beliefs regarding mental illness and substance abuse.
- Influential decisions made by policymakers, the judiciary, and industrial leaders led to a severe housing shortage.

1800s:
- Initial practices involved jailing or sending homeless individuals to county farms, a strategy that ultimately failed to contain the issue as numbers swelled.
1950s:
- Construction of public housing was halted, viewed as “socialistic.”
- Urban renewal efforts dismantled thousands of low-income housing units, notably single-room occupancy hotels on Skid Row and Victorian homes in Bunker Hill.
1970s:
- A slow-growth movement reduced the city’s capacity for functional housing from 10 million to 4 million people.
- Economic downturns led to job losses, particularly affecting Black and Latino workers in South L.A.

1972: U.S. Supreme Court deemed criminal vagrancy laws unconstitutional.
Concurrent with mental health institution closures in California, which left many individuals without adequate care or accommodations.
Prop 13 (1978): Reduced property taxes significantly, decreasing state funding available for addressing homelessness.

Housing prices in Los Angeles soared from $25,000 in the early 1970s to over $1 million in 2023.
- Adjusted for inflation, costs are approximately six times higher than in the 70s.
Rent statistics:
- Median rent in L.A. reported at $2,800 (2025), whilst it was only $107 (1970).

The combination of rising costs, dwindling job opportunities, and inadequate social services escalated the crisis.
1984 reported that L.A. had the largest homeless population in the U.S. at the time, overtaking New York City.

Police policies historically managed homelessness through criminalization rather than support.
The LAPD has managed public spaces where homelessness proliferated, often targeting homeless individuals through vagrancy laws.
Safer Cities Initiative: Attempted to eradicate homelessness through strict policing, resulting in over 9,000 arrests over minor offenses.
The rise in arrests was disproportionately among Black and Latino populations, reflecting deeper systemic inequalities.

Notable cases include Jones vs. City of Los Angeles (2007) ruling allowed sleeping on sidewalks overnight, reflecting judicial recognition of inadequate shelter.
The subsequent ruling in Martin vs. Boise (2018) further prohibited cities from enforcing anti-camping regulations in the absence of sufficient shelter.

Growing encampments prompted reactions from communities and municipalities.
In 2024, U.S. Supreme Court ruled against previous decisions, affirming that cities could penalize sleeping in public spaces, raising concerns about the humanitarian implications.

By examining L.A.'s historical responses to homelessness, it is evident that systematic policies, legal frameworks, and socio-economic shifts have shaped the current crisis.
The city has struggled to adequately address the homeless population, leading to recurring cycles of arrests and societal neglect.
While highlighting the tragic elements of homelessness, systematic change and housing policy reform remain urgent and necessary for an effective resolution.