Nearly half of Black voters in Los Angeles County have been homeless, have experienced housing insecurity in the past year or know someone who has — a significantly larger share than for other racial and ethnic groups, according to a new poll.
The numbers highlight the sharp racial inequity of homelessness in Los Angeles. Black residents make up roughly 8% of L.A. County‘s population, but 34% of its homeless population, according to the most recent official count.
The new poll by the Los Angeles Business Council Institute, done in cooperation with the Los Angeles Times, shows that among Black voters countywide, 49% either have been homeless or housing insecure in the past year or know someone who has been.
By comparison, 29% of white voters and 25% of Asian American voters have such direct experience. For Latino voters, it’s 42%.
