This report focuses on people who had frequent entries into the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority between 2016 and 2023. We focus on people with more frequent entries into the homelessness response system to better understand their demographic characteristics, programs they access, and exit destinations when they leave the homelessness response system. We compare people with more-frequent entries to those with less-frequent entries to better understand how interactions with the homelessness response system may create barriers for stable housing.

WHY THIS MATTERS

As the number of people experiencing homelessness increases nationally and in Los Angeles, we focus on people with more-frequent entries into homelessness response system as a way to understand the existing barriers for stable housing. By focusing on the needs and experiences of these individuals, we shed light on where more resources and investments may be needed to support people who experience homelessness more frequently.

WHAT WE FOUND

• 27,260 people (7 percent of all people) were categorized as people with more-frequent entries. They accounted for 187,073 distinct episodes of homelessness (27 percent), with a mean of 6.9 distinct entries per person.
• 346,442 people (93 percent of all people) were categorized as those with less-frequent entries. They accounted for 73 percent of all distinct episodes with a mean of 1.5 distinct entries per person.
• People who have more-frequent entries are most likely to be middle-aged (ages 36–55; 45 percent) or older than 55 (22 percent); Black (41 percent) or Hispanic/Latino (30 percent); male (60 percent); and have a recorded disability (88 percent).
• Across all groups, nearly two-thirds of people receive access to services only or shelter/interim housing. People with more frequent entries were more likely to access shelter/interim housing (32 percent) compared with people with less frequent entries (20 percent).
• Among all people enrolled in permanent housing, the average person with less-frequent entries was first enrolled between their first and second entry, compared with people with more-frequent entries, who first enrolled in permanent housing between their fifth and sixth entry on average.
• Most people with more-frequent entries exited to another homeless situation (54 percent). Conversely, the largest share of people with less-frequent entries exited into a permanent housing situation (44 percent); only 25 percent of people with more-frequent entries exited to permanent housing.

HOW WE DID IT

This analysis uses data provided by the California Policy Lab’s Research Accelerator, which describes clients of the Los Angeles Homelessness Service Authority, the primary organization that coordinates housing and other services for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. We defined people who more frequently enter the homelessness response system as those with five or more distinct entries between 2016–23 in the Los Angeles County Homeless Management Information System. We defined a distinct entry as one that is at least 30 days from any other entry.