Articles for Homeless Deaths

Deadly overdoses stopped surging among L.A. County homeless people. Narcan could be why
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Deadly overdoses stopped surging among L.A. County homeless people. Narcan could be why

LA Times  

Registered nurse Linda Leimer with the L.A. County Department of Health Services, left, hands Narcan nasal spray to a man in Van Nuys in 2022. Now a newly released report shows that the death rate from overdoses stopped rising among unhoused people in the county in 2022 — the year L.A. County was stepping up its efforts to save lives. …

Health Deaths Homeless Health Services County Rate Lewis
Many homeless in L.A. died from drugs in 2023, preliminary data show
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Many homeless in L.A. died from drugs in 2023, preliminary data show

LA Times  

Tents line the sidewalk at a homeless encampment in the Rampart Village neighborhood of Los Angeles in November 2021. Data released Thursday by City Controller Kenneth Mejia show at least 898 homeless people died last year on streets, in shelters, on freeways and elsewhere. Mejia’s report, which analyzed Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner preliminary data, did not break …

Deaths City Homeless Report Los Angeles Fentanyl Homeless Deaths
Fentanyl overdoses contribute to surge in L.A. County homeless deaths
1 year, 7 months ago

Fentanyl overdoses contribute to surge in L.A. County homeless deaths

LA Times  

A devastating surge in drug overdoses drove up deaths among unhoused people in Los Angeles County in recent years, along with the rising toll of traffic collisions and homicides, according to a public health department report released Friday. The leading cause of death was drug overdoses, which made up more than a third of deaths among homeless people in L.A. …

Health Report County Public Fentanyl Hynes Homeless People
As fentanyl overdose deaths keep rising, efforts to reverse trend meet liability fears
1 year, 11 months ago

As fentanyl overdose deaths keep rising, efforts to reverse trend meet liability fears

LA Times  

As fentanyl overdose deaths rise unabated, California is at the forefront of the fight to reverse the grim trend. In a perfect world, she’d erect stands or boxes containing naloxone — she likened them to “Little Free Library” boxes, but with opioid reversal medication instead of tattered paperbacks — in homeless encampments and other places where drug users congregate. A …

Health Public Health Deaths Homeless San Francisco California Liability
Orange County on pace for most homeless deaths in its history, again
3 years, 1 month ago

Orange County on pace for most homeless deaths in its history, again

LA Times  

More homeless people will likely have died this year in Orange County than any other. “It’s no surprise that people are continuing to die on the streets at record numbers,” said Brooke Weitzman, an attorney and homeless advocate. Weitzman also said that cities should be opening resources like Mary’s Kitchen, a nonprofit in Orange that provides a number of services …

Deaths Services Homeless County Orange County Covid Died
The powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is behind rising deaths in the homeless population
3 years, 11 months ago

The powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is behind rising deaths in the homeless population

LA Times  

A sharp rise in deaths of homeless people starting in the spring of 2020 was driven by drug overdoses involving fentanyl, a report released Thursday by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health concluded. “Despite the relatively smaller direct impact of COVID-19 … the first seven months of 2020 saw an alarming increase in overdose deaths in this population,” …

Population Deaths Homeless Mortality Report Covid 2019