According to a recent study by researchers at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and their colleagues, the approximately 75,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County not only experience material hardships but also a high level of discrimination, leaving them vulnerable to physical and sexual violence.
Out of the 332 individuals who were surveyed for the study, 32% stated that they faced discrimination daily in the past month. Furthermore, 54% of the participants reported experiencing discrimination in the previous week. The discrimination they faced included being threatened or harassed, receiving poor service, being treated discourteously, and being perceived as unintelligent or dangerous.
In contrast, studies conducted on minoritized groups in the past have reported rates of lifetime discrimination ranging from 13% to 60%.
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According to the survey, 7.5% of those who are homeless have experienced sexual violence, while 16% have experienced physical violence in the past 30 days. In comparison, the general population in major U.S. cities has reported physical violence rates of 3% within the past year, and sexual violence rates of 0.24%.
Dr. Randall Kuhn, a UCLA Fielding professor of community health sciences and co-leader of the study team, together with researchers from the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, sheds light on the overwhelming burden of violence and discrimination that our unhoused neighbors in L.A. County face.
According to Kuhn and her team’s previous research in public health, it is evident that everyday discrimination and racism can lead to long-term health issues. Furthermore, people experiencing homelessness have significantly lower life expectancies compared to those who have a permanent residence. Kuhn suggests that the way people respond to homelessness and treat unhoused individuals can worsen the situation and exacerbate existing problems.
Approximately 11% of the United States population struggling with homelessness resides in Los Angeles County. Additionally, over 20% of those experiencing homelessness in the county are without shelter or are chronically homeless.
