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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. 

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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

Opinion
How Should We Define Homelessness?
November 21, 2023
In this op-ed, Cheyenne Garcia, senior research analyst at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, advocates for policymakers, elected officials, funders, and activists to update the definiti...
Webinar: Creating Authentic, Effective Partnerships between Organizations and People with Lived Experiences: Lessons from CASPEH
November 15, 2023
The UCSF BHHI recently released a report on the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s—the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness...
Opinion
How Racism Underpins the U.S.’ Homelessness Problem
Boston Globe
November 9, 2023
In this op-ed, Kara Young Ponder, PhD, director of community engagement and racial justice at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, explains how neighborhood design and homeownership a...
Opinion
Sacramento is Seeing More and More Homeless Youth. How Can We Help Them? | Opinion
Sacramento Bee
November 7, 2023
In this op-ed, Marguerita Lightfoot, PhD, MA, Associate Dean for Research at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, calls attention to youth experiencing homelessness in Sacramento. She outlines the hi...
Opinion
California Makes it Hard to get Help for Opioid Addiction. Why?
San Francisco Chronicle
November 6, 2023
In this op-ed, Leslie W. Suen, MD, MAS, an assistant professor of medicine in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital, highlights the lack accessibility of the...
Opinion
Media Blame Homelessness on Substance Abuse. The Data Tell a Different Story.
Truthout
November 6, 2023
In this op-ed, Margot Kushel, MD, a professor of medicine and director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at UCSF, explains how homelessness in California is a housing issue. Others of...

"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