Researchers set out to better understand the following: how prevention programs for at-risk populations define success, and how success is measured; what programs exist within the county to provide housing stabilization for people at risk; and what gaps and opportunities exist for improvement for existing programs. Report authors define success as stabilizing housing and preventing entry into homelessness, with an emphasis on timely, flexible support.
The report finds that L.A. County’s homelessness prevention system for people at risk of homelessness requires a multi-pronged approach reflecting the complexity of housing instability across populations.
Further, prevention strategies work best when they integrate multiple entry points and allows those at risk—along with community members and service providers—to access a range of support options. Report authors say future investments through Measure A (passed in 2024) and the newly formed LACAHSA must prioritize inclusive flexible funds, eligibility criteria, provide better support for frontline workers, and build more robust systems for data sharing and coordination. Additionally, future investments should include homelessness prevention that address racial disparities.