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Towards a New Understanding

BHHI Releases New Report

The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness

The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) has released the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s, providing a comprehensive look at the causes and consequences of homelessness in California and recommending policy changes to shape programs in response. 

Latest News

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Benioff Homelessness Housing Initiative
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Our Approach

To shape the most effective policies and practices in housing and homelessness, we incorporate the voices of people experiencing homelessness into our research, program design, and policy recommendations.

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Our Impact

We conduct rigorous research to create effective, equitable, and evidence-based solutions. Our studies develop in dialogue with communities to have a direct impact on issues they face.

Recently Featured

Reports
Toward a New Understanding: The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness
June 20, 2023
Conducted by the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH) is the largest representative study of homelessness in th...
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4 Charts That Explain How People Slide Into Homelessness
TIME
June 20, 2023
A large new study, conducted by the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative asked people experiencing homelessness from all over California about what would have helped them avoid losing thei...
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A New Study Paints a Different Picture of Homelessness in California
New York Times
June 20, 2023
There are a lot of myths about people who are homeless in California: They’re from another state. They don’t want a job. They don’t want a home. A new study published by the University of California, ...
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Lack of Affordable Housing Is Driving Older Californians Into Homelessness
KQED News
June 20, 2023
With modern home prices out of reach for many California residents on fixed incomes, older adults have become the fastest-growing segment of the unhoused population across the state, according to new ...
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California Homelessness: Largest Study in Decades Reveals ‘Fundamental Problem’ Behind Issue
San Francisco Chronicle
June 20, 2023
California’s homeless population is predominantly made up of people who lived in the state before losing their housing, with nearly half older than 50 and a disproportionate number who are Black and i...
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Unhoused Americans Have few Places to Turn When Death is Near
PBS Newshour
June 16, 2023
The United States has an aging population, and sufficient end-of-life care is a growing problem. For people adults who are unhoused, long-term medical care is often inaccessible. There are a few facil...

"There is no medicine as powerful as housing."

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Margot Kushel, MD
Director, UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative

"The gravest threats to health are due to poverty, discrimination, and particularly homelessness. Here at UCSF, many dedicated researchers have devoted their careers to addressing these health inequities. The Benioffs’ continued leadership on these issues, exemplified by this generous gift, will further energize our efforts, and strengthen our links to communities in need at the local, state and national levels."

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Sam Hawgood, MBBS
Sam Hawgood, MBBS
Chancellor, University of California, San Francisco

"The world needs a North Star for truth on homelessness. The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative will be that North Star, providing the latest research, data, and evidence-based solutions to ensure we’re investing in programs that will help solve the homelessness crisis."

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Marc Benioff
Marc Benioff