Homeless mortality is down in L.A. County for the first time in a decade

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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.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 11%; 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.Though a small percentage of all homeless deaths, suicide was 13 times more prevalent than among the general population.A 21% decline in the rate of death attributed to drugs and alcohol reflected a similar, albeit steeper, pl...