Alleviating Homelessness in Los Angeles
The policy memo, no more than 3000 words, is the most significant writing assignment of this course, where you apply and showcase your understanding of a policy problem and the writing skills that you have acquired through the semester. The policy memo will include a problem definition, analyses of current and proposed policy alternatives, stakeholder mapping & engagement strategies, and your own policy recommendation. Students will also have the opportunity to apply one of the five policy tools to their policy problem to improve any component of the memo or to generate additional evidence in favor of their final policy recommendation.
The five policy tools are Casual stories, Randomized control trials, Statistical indicators, Polls and surveys, and Automation.
ALLEVIATING HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES
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POLICY MEMORANDUM
Subject: Alleviating homelessness in Los Angeles
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Overview
The state of homelessness in Los Angeles County is unlike any other. According to recent estimates, the number of homeless people in Los Angeles (LA) has surpassed that of New York City to become the largest in the country, and it is still rising, with 69,000, or one in every 150 Angelenos, living in homelessness. It is possible that over 100,000 people will be homeless in Los Angeles by the time the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games. More than five persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) could die today, and thousands lack a safe place to sleep tonight (Villacorte & Admin, 2022). LA County covers a large area. There are ten million people living there, spread across 4,000 square miles, and if it were a country, its economy would rank among the top 25 in the world. Unfortunately, LA's homelessness crisis is comparable to this magnitude, and it is exacerbated by the city's rapid growth, the enduring nature of chronic homelessness, and a housing shortage.
Due to its large size, numerous jurisdictions, rapid population growth, and special challenges, LA County requires extensive, long-term solutions. The overall number of PEH is rising quickly; between 2015 and 2022, it increased by roughly 56%, while New York City, which formerly had the greatest number of homeless people in the nation, saw an 18% decline in this same period. And every day matters: according to Exhibit 2, there are 227 new arrivals for every 207 persons who leave homelessness on a daily average. Of these, about 16 people return to homelessness after six months. Complicating matters further is the county's large size and intricate system of government. The combined geographic area of LA County is greater than that of Delaware and Rhode Island.
When one takes into account some of the more profound ramifications, such as the impact on children and the number of additional lives lost, the catastrophic scope of LA's problem becomes evident. The current trajectory of LA's PEH mortality rate indicates that 16,000 more deaths from homelessness are expected by 2028 if the current growth rate of homelessness is maintained. The average lifespan of a person with PEH is already shortened by 28 years for men and 35 years for women.9. Furthermore, approximately 6,000 individuals, or 10% of PEH, were under the age of 18 in 2022. By 2028, more than 10,000 children might be without a home if this ratio continues.11 That is tragic on many levels; by the time they are twelve years old, 80 percent of homeless children have experienced at least one incident of violence.
Evaluation Criteria
Financial feasibility - One crucial component of the Job Training and Placement Initiative's efficacy is its financial viability. A significant financial commitment is necessary for the execution of job placement initiatives, support services, and vocational training programs. The long-term financial advantages, however, must be taken into account.
Political feasibility - For the initiative to gain support from legislators, local government, and the community at large, it must be politically feasible.
Long-term impact - The Job Training and Placement Initiative's sustainability and success are largely dependent on how it performs over the long run. This entails evaluating the program's effectiveness in addressing the underlying causes of homelessness.
Policy Alternatives
Los Angeles should implement the first housing approach. Secondly Los Angeles could invest in affordable