October 12, 2023

The Los Angeles Department of Health Services has implemented a pilot program that uses machine learning to identify people at risk of homelessness and intervene with assistance. The program analyzes data from seven county agencies, including arrests, emergency room visits, mental health crisis care, substance abuse disorder diagnoses, and applications for public benefits such as food aid. While early data show success, a formal study will assess the program’s long-term effectiveness.

A new Redfin study found that LGBTQ+ renters in the US face more financial barriers to homeownership compared with non-LGBTQ+ renters. The LGBTQ+ homeownership rate is 51 percent, compared to 71 percent for straight and cisgender people. The survey highlighted disparities in saving for down payments, with the wage gap and more limited family support likely playing a role.

Extreme weather events worldwide, exacerbated by climate change, have driven more than 43 million children from their homes between 2016 and 2021, leading to increased child homelessness, according to a United Nations report. The study estimates that over the next three decades, the number of children displaced because of climate-related factors will soar to over 113 million.

New analysis of Portland’s 12 historic districts found that they have not significantly increased housing costs or displaced people, despite concerns that preservation may reduce affordability. These districts have also become more racially diverse, mirroring city trends. The study recommends monitoring neighborhood trends, maintaining consistent historic preservation regulations, and allowing density in nearby zones to balance preservation and housing demand.