Measure H would provide $373 million a year to provide social services to address homelessness. (Photo/Michael Coghlan)
County voters consider homelessness measure March 7
USC experts weigh in on the proposal, which would provide $373 million a year for social services
Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax to fund homeless services throughout Los Angeles County, will be on the ballot March 7. The measure would generate $373 million a year to fund support social services for the homeless in the county, estimated at more than 47,000 in 2016. USC experts weigh in.
Support for families, substance abuse treatment
“Measure H represents a landmark for the region in trying to help reduce homelessness in a meaningful way. The resources will provide needed housing and shelter for the homeless, but the measure will also allow for the expansion of services such as job counseling, substance abuse treatment and support for families.”
RAPHAEL BOSTIC
Director of the Bedrosian Center on Governance at the USC Price School of Public Policy
Finding housing
“We can work with religious communities and churches around the city to identify underutilized properties. There are hundreds if not thousands of these properties around the city that could be converted or developed for housing.”
THE REV. JIM BURKLO
USC associate dean of religious life
A complex issue for veterans
“The Veterans Administration spends $137,000 per year on each homeless veteran. But homelessness is rarely the only problem. There are mental and physical health issues, legal troubles and substance use.
“We can’t adopt European models here because of major cultural differences, but we shouldn’t act like no one can solve this problem.”
CARL CASTRO
Assistant professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
An evidence-based approach
“At USC, we have a range of expertise at the university both on methodology and on substance that will help us refine the research and to capture more people in the count. We take an interdisciplinary approach to this very diverse, complicated problem that has so many aspects to it — housing, jobs, social structure and race.”
MICHAEL COUSINEAU
Professor of clinical preventative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC
More homeless women in Los Angeles County
“We see so many more women now who are chronically homeless. They need different services.”
NICOLE ESPARZA
Associate professor at the USC Price School
Counting homeless youth
“Homeless youth are easily victimized, so they try to hide in plain sight. They don’t tend to sleep in camps near busy streets.”
ERIC RICE
Associate professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work