Introduction to Homelessness in the US
President Trump has the answer to homelessness. Forcibly clear the streets. On Thursday, he signed an executive order to address “endemic vagrancy” and end “crime and disorder on our streets.” He called for the use of “civil commitments” to get those who suffer from mental illness or addiction into “humane treatment.”
The Reality of Homelessness
This comes after last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling making it legal for cities to punish people for being homeless, even if they have nowhere to go. There’s some truth in what he says, and California’s record on housing and homelessness is ripe for criticism. I’ve watched too many people suffer from addiction and mental illness and asked why the help is so slow to arrive. But I also know there are no simple answers for either crisis, and bluster is no substitute for desperately needed resources.
The Trump Administration’s Approach
Like a lot of what Trump does, this is another case of grandstanding. In the meantime, the Washington Post reported Thursday that the “Trump administration has slashed more than $1 billion in COVID-era grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is proposing to slash hundreds of millions more in agency grants.” Jaimmy Ray Clark, who has been homeless for two months, eats his donated food in his makeshift shelter on the sidewalk in Skid Row. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The Need for Real Solutions
As it happens, I was in the middle of a column on the latest Los Angeles homeless count when news of Trump’s executive order broke. I had just spent time with two homeless women to hear about their predicaments, and none of what Trump is proposing comes close to addressing their needs, which are tragically commonplace. Namely, they’re living in poverty and can’t afford a place to live.
The Complexity of Homelessness
In his executive order, Trump said that “nearly two-thirds of homeless individuals report having used hard drugs … in their lifetimes. An equally large share of homeless individuals reported suffering from mental health conditions.” I don’t know where he got those numbers, but truth and accuracy are not hallmarks of this administration. No doubt, addiction and mental illness are significant factors, and more intervention is needed. But that’s more complicated than he thinks, especially given the practical and legal issues surrounding coercive treatment — and it’s not going to solve the problem.
The Rise of Homelessness Among Older Adults
When the latest homeless count in Los Angeles was released, a slight decline from a year ago was regarded by many as a positive sign. But when Eli Veitzer of Jewish Family Service L.A. dug into the numbers, he found something both unsurprising and deeply disturbing. The number of homeless people 65 and older hadn’t gone down. It had surged, in both the city and county of Los Angeles. “I do not see myself as a victim. I’m a survivor. I pay my bills. My credit score is 798. The only thing I don’t have is a home.” — Jane Jefferies, unhoused living in Santa Monica
Real Stories of Homelessness
Jane Jefferies organizes her appliances and supplies she keeps in the back of her car in Santa Monica. “This isn’t new this year. It’s a trend over the last couple of years,” said Veitzer, whose nonprofit provides meals, housing assistance and various other services to clients. “It’s meaningful, and it’s real, and these people are at the highest risk of mortality while they’re on the streets.” The numbers from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority showed a 3.4% decrease in the total homeless population in the city, but a 17.6% increase among those 65 and older. The county numbers showed a 3.99% decrease overall, but an 8.59% increase in the 65 and older group.
The Root Cause of Homelessness
Reliable research has shown that among older adults who become homeless, the primary reason is the combination of poverty and high housing costs, rather than mental illness or addiction. March 2025 photo of a homeless woman walking past a row of tents in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. “They or their spouse lost their job, they or their spouse got sick, their marriage broke up or their spouse or parent died,” Dr. Margot Kushel of UC San Francisco’s Homelessness and Housing Initiative was telling me several hours before Trump’s executive order was issued.
The Human Cost of Homelessness
Her team’s landmark study, released two years ago (and covered by my colleague Anita Chabria), found that nearly half the state’s homeless residents were 50 and older, and that participants in the study reported a median monthly household income of $960. “The results … confirm that far too many Californians experience homelessness because they cannot afford housing,” Kushel said at the time. Among the older population, Veitzer said, the jump in homelessness comes against the backdrop of federal and local budget cuts that will make it harder to reverse the trend. And harder for nonprofits, which rely in part on public funding, to keep providing group meals, home-delivered meals, transportation, social services and housing support.
The Impact of Budget Cuts
“Every provider I’ve talked to in the city of L.A. is cutting meal programs,” Veitzer said. “We’re going to have to close two of our 13 meal sites, and last year we closed three. We used to have 16, and now we’re down to 11.” Jane Jefferies rests in her car and elevates her feet to reduce swelling in her legs in Santa Monica. Jefferies has been homeless in her car since February of this year.
Conclusion
On Thursday, Trump’s executive order on homelessness grabbed headlines but will do nothing for Jane Jefferies or Vancie Davis and for thousands like them. We know the interventions that can work, Kushel said, but with deep cuts in the works, we’re moving in the wrong direction. Davis’ son Thomas told Times photographer Genaro Molina about another person who lives in a vehicle and has been a neighbor of theirs in the parking lot. She wasn’t there Wednesday, but we’ll check back. It’s a 91-year-old woman.
FAQs
Q: What is the main cause of homelessness among older adults?
A: The primary reason is the combination of poverty and high housing costs, rather than mental illness or addiction.
Q: How many homeless individuals are 65 and older in Los Angeles?
A: The number of homeless people 65 and older surged in both the city and county of Los Angeles, with a 17.6% increase in the city and an 8.59% increase in the county.
Q: What is the impact of budget cuts on homelessness services?
A: Budget cuts will make it harder to reverse the trend of homelessness and will force nonprofits to cut meal programs and other services.
Q: What is the solution to homelessness?
A: The solution to homelessness is complex and requires a comprehensive approach that addresses poverty, affordable housing, and mental health and addiction services.
