Differences in health and welfare between homeless and homed welfare applicants in Los Angeles county

Studies of homelessness have rarely addressed the differences between homed and homeless groups. Such differences may have significant impacts for subgroups of the homeless population, especially the mentally disabled homeless. This paper examines the characteristics of a sample of homed and homeless welfare applicants (N = 372) in Los Angeles Country based on a recent survey conducted by the Department of Public and Social Services. First, a social geography of the homed and homeless is presented. Second, an analysis of these survey data indicates that these two populations differ in terms of demographic characteristics, types of employment, and access to institutional and social support. These results suggest that greater institutional and social support, labor market access, and stable and affordable housing resources are all necessary elements in policy which prevents and ameliorates homelessness.