Understanding Who Lives in Cars in Los Angeles County

Abstract

Homelessness continues to be an issue of increasing scale across Los Angeles, necessitating research to better understand the diversity within the unhoused population. Notably, much of the existing research on homelessness has focused on unhoused individuals living in shelters and tents but has often overlooked those living in vehicles, despite the fact that this is one of the fastest growing segments of the unhoused population.

About the Project

A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that 85% of Californians are concerned about the presence of homeless people in their community and believe addressing this issue should be a top priority. Few scholars have studied the large and growing numbers of people who live in their vehicles. According to point-in-time count data from the 2019 Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, over 40% of the unsheltered homeless population in LA County, some 14,000 people, rely on vehicles (cars, vans, RVs) for shelter. The increase in vehicular homelessness raises challenges for both people who are experiencing homelessness and for cities. Vehicle living can be cost-effective relative to sky-high rents, but residents often lack essential amenities. At the same time, residents complain about the adverse effects of vehicle encampments on their neighborhoods. In response, this project seeks to create a better understanding of vehicular homelessness as a way for both homeless providers and transportation officials alike to address this precarious form of shelter.