Statement by UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative Director Margot Kushel, MD, on the Los Angeles County Wildfires

SAN FRANCISCO (January 17, 2025) – Following is a statement by Dr. Margot Kushel,
MD, Director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) at the
University of California, San Francisco, on the fires devastating Los Angeles County.
Dr. Kushel is the principal investigator of The California Statewide Study of People
Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), the largest representative study of
homelessness in the U.S. since the 1990s. Released in 2023, CASPEH provides a
comprehensive analysis of homelessness in California and offers policy
recommendations to address its root causes.

“Our hearts go out to the thousands displaced by the devastating fires in Los Angeles.
This tragedy underscores the growing challenges posed by climate-driven disasters,
which exacerbate the existing severe housing crisis.

“For people already experiencing homelessness, disasters reveal the stark realities of
surviving without stable housing. Limited access to evacuation alerts, disrupted
transportation and heightened health risks from smoke exposure heighten those risks.
Destruction from wildfires further reduces the strained housing supply, leaving people
at risk of experiencing homelessness with fewer options. When disaster strikes, those
at high risk of homelessness and those who are experiencing homelessness are the
most likely to be left behind. People from historically marginalized communities face
outsized risk. The intersecting crises of climate change and homelessness highlight the
need for stronger systems—expanded shelter capacity, more affordable housing, and
coordinated outreach. To build resilience in the face of future disasters, we must
address these gaps.

“Evidence shows that displacement leads to prolonged housing instability and
homelessness, straining shelter systems, and deepening inequities. By addressing the
root causes of homelessness and integrating disaster preparedness into housing
policies, we can build a system that protects and supports everyone. “Homelessness
in California saw a three percent increase in the last year to 187,084. This increase is
lower than the national trend, but the enormous number of people experiencing
homelessness in California reflects the ongoing crisis caused by the lack of affordable
housing in California.”

About UCSF BHHI
The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) provides accurate,
timely policy-oriented research about homelessness for local, state, and national
policymakers and practitioners. Funded by a generous gift from Marc and Lynne
Benioff and based at the UCSF Division of Health Equity and Society, UCSF BHHI is a
trusted source for evidence-based practice, policy, and scalable solutions—turning
evidence into action to prevent and end homelessness.

Media requests can be directed to OUUVZrqvn@hpfs.rqhude.fscu@aideMIHHB .

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