Homelessness in Los Angeles

Los Angeles: Homelessness & Mental Health

Mental Health and Homelessness within LA • Background: Homelessness is a persistent in Los Angeles that subjects many people to mental health issues. • Field Agency: Southern California Health and Rehabilitation program (SCHARP), which provides mental health services and rehabilitation for vulnerable ethnic minorities and homeless people in South LA. • Key Stakeholders: Mental Health Department (DMH) and Health Services (DHS) • Social Problem: Homelessness is a macro social problem due to its impact, the massive number of people experiencing it, and its persistence. • 70 000 Statistics: The predicament will affect practically , 2022 16 528 people in California by , , of whom are in 14 537 Los Angeles County, and , of the population are 2022 2021 chronically homeless. (Levin, ), (SCHARP, )

Dominant and Marginalized Group • Dominant Group: White males who have better access to social support systems and jobs. • Marginalized Group: African Americans as well as Hispanics who have limited access to social support systems due to stereotypes of being irresponsible and criminals. • 33 Statistics: African Americans make up % of the county's homeless population, while 29 Hispanics constitute %. (Edwards, 2021 )

Homelessness in Los Angeles • Among the highest homeless populations in the United States. • Los Angeles County has approximately 66 436 , homeless individuals. (Grotts, 2022 ). • Mental health issues among the challenges they face. • 67 % of homeless individuals in Los Angeles 2020 had a mental health condition in 2022 (Hayes, ).

Project components and Theories • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-helps people comprehend the connection between their thoughts, beliefs, and behavior (David et 2018 al., ). • Psychodynamic theory- focuses on the impact of subconscious thinking processes as well as early experiences on adult behavior. • Systems theory : importance of how humans communicate with their environment and their effect on behavior.

Therapeutic Interventions • Two groups of participants: 1 . Cognitive behavioral therapy • To be given to clients with mild mental health conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. • Participants and other therapists involved in the experiment to get a brochure that contains information on the CBT therapies. 2 . Additional Evaluations and Treatment • Clients with serious mental health difficulties to be referred to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Department of Health Services (DHS). • Medical treatments like therapy, medication, and other therapeutic interventions to be offered.

Benefits for SCHARP • Allows SCHARP to extend its services as well as serve more at-risk minority groups and homeless people in South Los Angeles. • Provide a complete approach to mental health therapy by merging evidence-based therapies such as CBT and psychodynamic theory. • The initiative will also get financing and assistance from the Departments of Mental Health (DMH) & Health Services (DHS), aiding SCHARP's purpose and effect. • Will assist SCHARP by expanding its services and delivering higher-quality mental health treatment to at-risk communities in South Los Angeles.

Benefits for Local Economy • The project will provide job opportunities to individuals within the local community by: • providing work to homeless people. • Through contributions and volunteers, the campaign will raise funds for local businesses. • This will have a good influence on the community as a whole, benefiting everyone in the region. • Employment Opportunities Promotes Social Justice.

References • Caprara, Collin, Obermark, D. E. A. N., Rountree, Janey , & Santillasno , Robert . 2022 ( ). Serious Mental Illness among People who are Unsheltered in Los Angeles. California Policy Lab. • 2018 David, D., Cristea, I., & Hofmann, S. G. ( ). Why cognitive behavioral therapy is the 9 1 9 current gold standard of psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, , – . 10 3389 2018 00004 https://doi.org/ . /fpsyt. . • 2021 Edwards, E. J. ( ). Who are the homeless? centering anti-black racism and the 10 9 2 16 consequences of colorblind homeless policies. Social Sciences, ( ), – . 10 3390 10090340 https://doi.org/ . /socsci • 2022 Grotts, J. H., Mead, M. M., Rab, S., Walker, I. J., & Choi, K. R. ( ). Geospatial analysis of associations among mental health need, housing need, and involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Social Science & 311 1 7 10 1016 2022 115343 Medicine, , – . https://doi.org/ . /j.socscimed. . • 2023 30 Harter, C., & Scauzillo, S. ( , January ). La is losing the battle against mental 23 2023 illness among its homeless. Daily News. Retrieved February , , from 2023 01 28 https://www.dailynews.com/ / / /los-angeles-is-losing-the-battle-against-mental-illness-among- # 20 20 20 20 20 20 its-homeless/ :~:text=The% Los% Angeles% Homeless% Services,a% psychotic% disorders 20 20 % and% schizophrenia. • 2022 8 69 000 Levin, S. ( , September ). Los Angeles County is home to more than , 23 2023 unhoused people, count finds. The Guardian. Retrieved February , , from 2022 08 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ /sep/ /los-angeles-homelessness-unhoused-people-number • 2021 12 SCHARP. ( , February ). About Us. Southern California Health & Rehabilitation 23 2023 Program. Retrieved February , , from https://scharpca.org/about-us/