UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative

🚨 New UCSF BHHI Report Homelessness among Latine Californians is rising—driven by high housing costs, low wages, and systemic anti-Latine racism. Our latest report, based on data from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), examines their experiences and offers recommendations policymakers and programs should consider to better support Latine people experiencing homelessness. 📊 Key findings: 📍 35% of adults experiencing homelessness in CA identify as Latine 📍 Median age: 42—lower than other racial groups 📍 Nearly half (48%) were in their first episode of homelessness 📍 52% entered homelessness from informal housing; 70% of those born outside the U.S. 📍 33% had minor children not with them; 24% cited homelessness as cause of separation 📍 93% lost housing in CA; 78% remained in the same county Recommendations include: ➡️ Expand access to affordable, stable housing—especially for extremely low-income households ➡️ Remove documentation, legal, and enrollment barriers to safety net programs ➡️ Invest in culturally and linguistically responsive services ➡️ Partner with trusted community orgs rooted in Latine communities ➡️ Support family reunification and prevent unnecessary separations Our thoughts are with those experiencing fear, disruption, and instability in Latine communities. We remain committed to advancing research that addresses the causes, consequences, and solutions to homelessness among Latine individuals and families across the country. 📖 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ge_xyVtx 📅 Register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gKXUpeGg

This #LaborDay is a reminder: having a job doesn’t always mean having a home. New BHHI research shows that high housing costs paired with limited labor protections leave many vulnerable. When income drops, homelessness can follow. Key challenges: 📌 Layoffs and reduced hours 📌 Unstable gig work with no protections 📌 Illness or injury 📌 Probation or parole demands Read the study here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gfqHN5Ws #workerprotections #gigwork #layoffs

Thank you to Recovery Research Institute for highlighting our recent study on substance use and treatment access among people experiencing homelessness in California. Their write-up underscores the urgency of expanding low-barrier treatment options and housing-focused solutions. Study authors: Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH; Meghan Morris; Elana Straus; Priest Martinez; Morgan Philbin; Margot Kushel MD. Read their coverage here: https://lnkd.in/gHbF6W3s

BHHI is now on Threads! Connect with us: https://lnkd.in/gep4ZecU Other places you can find us: 🦋 Bluesky: https://lnkd.in/gFJhAfrz 💼 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gWUfK-Qy 📰 Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gCxT5b99

Robert Robinson’s story shows how quickly job loss can lead to homelessness—our latest research confirms this is common. Decades of evidence support proven solutions like housing + services for those who need them—not sweeps or arrests. Read Rob's op-ed ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eTBmTgtP Read our study ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/g7EqrRm3

Housing First works — even for people with the most complex needs. In Santa Clara County, we evaluated Project Welcome Home, a program that provided Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) — subsidized housing paired with voluntary services — for chronically homeless adults who were frequent users of health, shelter, and jail services. Results from our randomized controlled trial: ➡️ 86% of those randomized to PSH were housed (vs. 36% in usual care) ➡️ Participants stayed housed for 93% of the follow-up period ➡️ Psychiatric ED visits and shelter use decreased ➡️ Outpatient mental health care increased These findings align with rigorous studies in New York and Canada, which also showed long-term housing stability and improved outcomes. The evidence is clear: PSH—a Housing First approach—helps people with serious behavioral health needs stay housed and connected to care. 🔗 Learn more: Behavioral Health Report: https://lnkd.in/dKgaQxvQ Santa Clara Study: https://lnkd.in/eufZjVuT

The cost of housing is keeping people homeless—not reliance on deeply limited social supports. Facts: ➡️ Many people without housing are already working or looking for work, but wages don’t cover rent. ➡️ Others lost housing after a health crisis or death of a spouse left them unable to pay the bills on their own. ➡️ For older adults and those with chronic conditions, working may no longer be possible, and their benefits aren't enough to cover rent. ⛔ Pushing people into overcrowded shelters doesn’t solve the problem. When time is up, they’re back on the street—without the tents and other belongings that helped them survive. The solution isn’t taking help away. It’s investing in affordable housing and supports so people have the stability they need to stay housed. https://lnkd.in/e4vQEgrK

The United States has fewer labor protections and wage guarantees than most wealthy nations, leaving many workers vulnerable to economic hardship from job loss, reduced hours, or work-related injuries. Lost wages—through job loss, reduced hours, or unstable work—are major pathways into homelessness. New BHHI research highlights challenges that often lead to housing loss: 📍 Illness, injury, and layoffs 📍 Gig work provides unstable income 📍 Home health workers lose jobs and housing when clients die 📍Probation and parole requirements disrupt employment 📍COVID-19 closures and layoffs worsened instability Wage loss can trigger either a sudden or gradual descent into homelessness—highlighting the need for stronger prevention strategies. Read more ⬇️ ⬇️ Authors: Michael Duke, Dallas Augustine, Zena Dhatt, Tianna Jacques, Johanna Margo Pottebaum, Robynne Rose-Haymer, MEd, Gina Sakoda, Grace Taylor, and Margot Kushel MD.

Cancer screenings are crucial—early detection reduces emergency surgeries and saves lives. 📈 New research from BHHI faculty and collaborators shows that homeless veterans who gain housing are over twice as likely to receive recommended cancer screenings as those who remain homeless. Housing is a key ingredient of health. Authors: Drs. Hannah Decker, Laura A. Graham, PhD, Ashley Titan M.D., Hemal Kanzaria, Mary Hawn, Elizabeth Wick, Jack Tsai, and Margot Kushel MD. https://lnkd.in/gZm36VYX University of California, San Francisco; Stanford University; VA PALO ALTO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

Stable housing provides the foundation for everything we do—from holding down a job to accessing medical care. As we continue to see shifts away from proven solutions like housing + services, University of Pennsylvania Professor Dennis Culhane reminds us: ➡️ "We did that and it failed. It’s the whole reason Housing First came about." https://lnkd.in/gUwFe-43