The number of homeless people in California alone exceeded 170,000

In the US state of California, insufficient income and high housing and rent prices in recent years have led to a serious increase in homelessness rates.

A study conducted at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) examined the rising rates of homelessness in the state and the factors that cause them.

30 percent of the total

According to the study, 171,000 people in the state are homeless, which is 30 percent of the total in the United States.

Blacks, who make up 6 percent of the state’s population, also make up 26 percent of the homeless.

Within the scope of the research, 3,200 homeless adults were surveyed between 2021 and 2022, and extensive interviews were conducted with 365 people among them.

While 90 percent of those surveyed were people who already lived in the state before they became homeless, half of these people were unable to work due to health problems, physical disabilities, and age.

HIGH RENTS…

While it was stated that the monthly income of the people in question was $960 on average before they lost their homes, it was determined that half of the $1,400 that the homeless people previously rented went to rent.

More than 20 percent of those surveyed who had previously lived in rent said they were evicted from their homes due to low income and wage constraints.

The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Margot Kushel, said that high rents increase homelessness.

The research aims to increase support for public projects that will improve the lives of homeless people and to transform public prejudices against homelessness.

According to the National Low Income Housing Association in the US, a person earning $15.50 an hour at the nation’s minimum wage must work 90 hours a week to rent a one-bedroom home. (AA)