Homeless deaths in county end decadelong rise

For the first time in the decade that homeless mortality has been tracked in Los Angeles County, fewer people have died on the streets and in shelters, the Department of Public Health reported Tuesday.

- BY DOUG SMITH

GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times A PERSON in a doorway in downtown L.A. Officials fear that funding cuts will increase homeless deaths.

A sharp decrease in overdose deaths drove a decline of 10% in the rate of homeless deaths from all causes in 2024, the most recent year of data analyzed by the county.

But drug overdose remained the leading cause of death, followed by heart disease and vehicle accidents.

The annual analysis found 2,208 deaths in 2024. That was 300 fewer than in the previous year but still more than six deaths a day and more than four times the mortality rate for the county as a whole.

The decrease solidified an improving trend over the prior two years, which saw only slight increases.

Before that, the rate had increased 56% over two years.

Health officials attributed the improvement to overdose prevention and Mental health and substance use treatment, but warned that the trend could be disrupted by expected cuts to those services.

“At a time of major reductions in federal and state funding for homeless services and supports, we are at risk of losing precious ground and seeing an increase in the number of vulnerable people losing their lives,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement released with the report.

Overdoses accounted for 40% of all homeless deaths, down from 45% the prior year. It was followed by heart disease, 14%; traffic accidents, 1%; homicide, 5%; and suicide, 4%. The remaining 27% was a combination of other natural causes, accidents and unknown causes, said Will Nicholas, director of the health department’s Center for Health Impact Evaluation.