The Relation Between Income Risk and the Homeless Population

This research will demonstrate the relation between the homeless population and neighborhood income risk. The Skid Row Homeless encampment survey will allow us to obtain data recorded by students on the homeless population located in Skid Row. Using GIS as our main source of database we will be able to demonstrate the different attributes in each map and how they show a relation with the homeless population and neighborhood income risk. The findings of this research shows how being low income can lead an individual to become homeless.

California has always had a high percentage of the homeless population. According to CQ research, California accounted for more than 20% of the nation's homeless population in 2013. The first problem that results in homelessness is the lack of affordable housing in the nation. Hud gives priority to those who are classified as extremely low-income and very low-income, leaving households who only classify as low-income unable to be approved for section 8. County laws don't require landlords to accept people with section 8 and it makes it hard for those in that program to live in a safe neighborhood.

 My base layer is the LA Times Neighborhood Income Risk Map, which demonstrates the amount of household income, disposable income, per capita income in the year 2019. This layer also demonstrates the different boundaries that homeowners and renters face such as; rent, median household income, median disposable income, and median per capita income data. 87% of the population in Downtown are renters, these individuals are using more than half of their income to pay rent.

• Skid Row Homeless Encampment Survey March 2020
• LA Times Neighborhood Income Risk Map 
• Skid Row Survey Census Block 
• Skid Row Services
• Freeways

• 1-person tent shelter
• Non-Tent Shelter using Tarp
• No Shelter Direct Contact with SideWalk Using Sleeping Bag
• Items Located Near Encampment- Shopping Cart
• Gender- Male

The LA Times Neighborhood Income Risk Map demonstrates the amount of household income, disposable income, per capita income in the year 2019. On the map above we can see this layer showing as a dark blue shade and it is shown in Skid Row, where the homeless population is dominant. By analyzing the homeless population with the encampment survey we are able to see the relation between low-income individuals and the homeless population. Each map demonstrates that they are clustered in Downtown but what it does not demonstrate is the reason for why they are homeless. We can connect high rent costs to why these individuals end up in the streets, if someone is paying more than their earned income on rent eventually they will have to move out.

The Skid Row Homeless Encampment survey shows that the dominant gender in the homeless population is male with a count of 127, not including all of those we were not able to see. Male population seem to locate themselves on main streets such as 5th street and 6th street, they are a bit of walking distance from the Skid Row services that are offered in Downtown. In society men do have different gender role expectations, they should be the head of the household the one that provides. Downtown being an area where most of the individuals make less of what their rent is, they may feel this pressure that they must provide a home for their family and unfortunately not everyone can afford to do so. It is not personal, it is more a social problem that due to the high increase in rent throughout times individuals unfortunately lose their homes and find themselves homeless. In a fair environment, an individual should be able to afford health care and housing, no one should live with the stress of not having enough money to care for their health or to not care about the area they live in.

• One way to stop the increase of the homeless population is to create services that help out low-income individuals; such as housing programs

• Unfortunately individuals who are considered low-income are less likely to receive housing services by prioritizing everyone there is a possibility to help out more low-income individuals. By making these programs more accessible to the public there is a higher chance for them to receive help and to not become homeless in the near future.
• The key factor of reducing the homeless population is to prevent more individuals from losing their homes and to become financially unstable

• Create more programs where males have the opportunity to be eligible for housing and shelter services.
• Provide better services for Veterans such as; health services, mental health/therapy services, and housing services.