Visit our website and follow us on Twitter at @HPRI_LA for more information.
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2021-22 HPRI Research Agenda |
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The Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) recently shared the 2021-22 HPRI Research Agenda: Moving Toward An Anti-Racist System For Ending and Preventing Homelessness in Los Angeles. The HPRI Research Agenda was created to fill critical gaps in the existing knowledge base and advance research priorities that can shape local policy and funding priorities. The creation of the Research Agenda was informed by several meetings with HPRI members and interviews with community stakeholders, including people with lived expertise who received services from the current Los Angeles homelessness system. |
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HPRI Welcomes New Project Specialist |
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Nick Weinmeister
Project Specialist, Homelessness Policy Research
Institute
Nick Weinmeister (he/him/his) is a Project Specialist at the Homelessness Policy Research Institute. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, where he developed his interests in housing and homelessness policy, as well as strategies using policy, research, and communication as tools to pursue social and racial justice.
Nick comes to HPRI after working with the policy team at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. During his time in local government Nick facilitated a variety of research on emerging issues in homelessness, created policies pursuant to the goals of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, developed processes to ensure high levels of culturally-informed agency operations, and wrote myriad reports and resources for providers, elected officials, and the general public. In his free time Nick loves to attend live music performances and watch and play soccer.
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HPRI Members Recently Published in the Research Catalogue
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The Latest in HPRI Publications |
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HPRI facilitates rapid-response research to help end homelessness across Los Angeles County, including: literature reviews, data analyses, policy briefs, and other research products to inform timely policy decisions. See the latest publications below and visit the HPRI website for a catalogue of research publications by HPRI partners.
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Literature Review:
Homeless Outreach: The Los Angeles County Context
By Corran Bellman, Allan Broslawsky
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According to the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, there are 66,436 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, 72% of whom are unsheltered. The rate of unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles County is among the highest in the nation, considerably more than the nationwide rate of 39%. It is difficult for housing and service providers to assist the unsheltered population; evidence suggests that people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are less likely to access healthcare and support services than those who are sheltered. Service organizations and agencies use street outreach strategies to locate and identify people experiencing homelessness who are not otherwise accessing support and connect them to available services and housing resources. Outreach has emerged as a key and well-funded component of Los Angeles County’s plan to address homelessness, with the county collaborating with city agencies and non-profit service organizations to coordinate efforts. Research on outreach to people experiencing homelessness is relatively limited; yet, outreach is common practice for homeless services providers in Los Angeles and elsewhere, and HUD recommends it as a strategy for reducing chronic homelessness. This literature review examines research on the effectiveness and impact of outreach programs, different strategies for successful outreach, and Los Angeles County’s specific approach to coordinated homeless outreach efforts. |
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Literature Review:
Homelessness Services Worker Retention Strategies
By Corran Bellman, Allan Broslawsky
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Hiring and retaining workers in the homeless services sector is crucial to solving the homelessness crisis. However, this sector has high turnover rates and vacancies; the average job tenure is less than two years, and these vacancies lead to high workloads for the remaining workers, which causes burnout (Rios, 2016). Workers in the homelessness service sector are disproportionately Black and Latinx and are more likely to have previously experienced homelessness. Due to a combination of low wages and the secondary trauma they encounter on the job, they are considered a vulnerable population that is more likely to fall into homelessness themselves (SVPLA, 2021). An infusion of funding into the sector and strategic decision-making could help to recruit more employees and incentivize current employees to remain.
The existing body of evidence suggests a baseline level of wages that is sufficient to retain employees. The research shows that sign-on bonuses can have meaningful impacts on employees. Additionally, various workforce strategies could support organizations and sectors that face employee retention issues (Rios, 2016).
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2022 National Virtual Conference on
Ending Unsheltered Homelessness: Strategies & Policies That Work
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Ending Unsheltered Homelessness: Strategies & Policies That Work brought together providers, system leaders, advocates, people with lived expertise, and others from across the country to address a national crisis that has become the focal point for homelessness in America. The following research committee members presented at the conference:
- Va Lecia Adams Kellum
- Earl Edwards
- Erika Hartman
- Sofia Herrera
- Saba Mwine
- Gary Painter
- Eric Rice
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HPRI Research Symposium:
“Substance Use Disorder & Homelessness”
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On Tuesday, February 22nd, the Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) hosted a Virtual Research Symposium to provide a space for researchers, policymakers and providers to learn about and discuss how a more nuanced understanding of the interrelation of homelessness and substance use can inform equitable approaches to homelessness.
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We are pleased to welcome the following new Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) members:
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Chris Davis, Communications Manager, USC Sol Price Center for Social Innovation, Homelessness Policy Research Institute
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Kathryn Henderson, Principal Research Associate, Westat
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Emily Vaughn Henry, Deputy Chief Information Officer, LAHSA
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Fabricia Pereira, Principal Researcher, Human Rights Centers
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Kelli Poole, Director, Racial Equity in Homelessness Initiative, Social Justice Partners LA
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Cheryl Winter, Associate Director, CSH
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The Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) is a collaborative of over seventy researchers and policymakers that accelerate equitable and culturally informed solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles County by advancing knowledge and fostering transformational partnerships between research, policy and practice. |
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