Study: At Least 1,500 Unhoused Died on the Streets of L.A. During the Pandemic

New research represents the first detailed picture of death among people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

2 minute read

December 2, 2021, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


California Homeless

Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock

A new study by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) confirmed the death of nearly 1,500 people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

An article by Sam Levin for The Guardian shares the news of the study.

The study comes a significant caveat: the total is likely a significant undercount. "The coroner’s office only tracks fatalities that were 'sudden, violent or unusual'. The data does not include unhoused people who were receiving medical care or hospitalized when they died. The count also excludes people who died while in shelters or cars," writes Levin.

Levin's coverage includes more detail on the findings of the study, including demographic information.

The report sheds new light on a subject that's been relatively underreported during the pandemic. Despite efforts to house people experiencing homelessness in temporary shelters and provide financial and legal support to vulnerable renters, much of the attention to housing during the pandemic has been focused on the expensive end of the market.

Previous Planetizen coverage of homelessness during the pandemic:

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in The Guardian

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