More Homeless Die in the Cold in LA than New York

[Keyser_Soze]

Quote

One of the abiding myths about Los Angeles is that homeless people come here from the East Coast or Midwest because at least they won’t freeze to death.

But despite L.A.’s typical sunshine and mild temperatures, five homeless people, including Brider, died of causes that included or were complicated by hypothermia in the county last year, surpassing San Francisco and New York City, which each reported two deaths. Over the last three years, 13 people have died at least partly because of the cold, the coroner’s office said. And advocates worry that this cold, rainy winter will mean more fatalities.

Hypothermia has led to more deaths in L.A. than in colder regions because 39,000 homeless people here live outdoors — by far the most of any metropolitan area in the country. L.A.’s generally moderate Mediterranean climate is no shield, because hypothermia can set in at temperatures as high as 50 degrees, experts say.

Going without a hat can drain up to half of a person’s body heat, and wet clothing can intensify heat loss twentyfold, according to a 2007 report from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Underlying medical conditions, alcohol and drug use — including the use of psychiatric medications — mental illness and the privations of living outdoors intensify the risk. Brider, for example, tested positive for cocaine and had cancer of the throat and tongue, the coroner said.

“Many people experiencing homelessness suffer from malnutrition and sleep deprivation, leading to some of them remaining out in the cold. Ultimately, sometimes they die,” said Bobby Watts, the homeless council’s chief executive.

 

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[RedSoxFan9]

I’m sure LA’s wonderful mayor is working around the clock on this problem 

[SuperSpreader]

The country sends their homeless to California.

[CitizenVectron]

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One of the abiding myths about Los Angeles is that homeless people come here from the East Coast or Midwest because at least they won’t freeze to death.

 

I mean, that's still generally true. While NYC has better shelters for the homeless (due to the cold), LA is still better to be homeless in 99% of the time (in terms of climate). It does need emergency shelters for the times when it does get cold, of course.

[Keyser_Soze]

25 minutes ago, CitizenVectron said:

It does need emergency shelters for the times when it does get cold, of course.

 

I imagine they are there. They have them in San Diego, if it rains or the temperature drops below a certain range they open emergency shelters.

[Jason]

NYC has a right to shelter due to a court ruling a few decades back. Los Angeles doesn't.

[Dodger]

Well it might not be Chicaco or NY, it can get down to the 40's and occassionally 30's at night in Southern California. Also, it frequently gets fairly windy in many areas. And if you're by the beach like many homeless are in Venice Beach for example, it gets chilly with some wind a lot of nights. 

[marioandsonic]

Tangentally related, but I've read that Hawaii also has a large homeless problem.  Which makes sense, since if you're homeless, you might as well go somewhere where it's warm year round.

[Bloodporne]

Not really related but man, my experiences with absurdly aggressive homeless people in CA made NYC look like a playground. What goes on over there?

[Keyser_Soze]

7 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

Not really related but man, my experiences with absurdly aggressive homeless people in CA made NYC look like a playground. What goes on over there?

 

A lot of them like to play the veteran card, as if being a veteran entitles you to do what you want.

[Jason]

10 hours ago, 2user1cup said:

The country sends their homeless to California.

 

That happens, but a majority of Los Angeles homeless lived in Los Angeles County at the time they became homeless, and I think that's true for California overall too (people living in the same county as they're homeless in as they were at the time they became homeless). 

[Anathema-]

More die in the cold because there are many more of them there .. doesn’t that mean the premise of the hed is obliterated?

[Chris-]

California sends out more homeless than it receives, especially San Francisco. Florida, and the South as a whole, gets the most homeless.

[Commodore D]

5 hours ago, Chris- said:

California sends out more homeless than it receives, especially San Francisco. Florida, and the South as a whole, gets the most homeless.

If you can pick your destination, I'd just go to the cities that offer free bus rides and live on the bus seeing the country. 

 

Edit: just read the life time ban part. <shakes fist at the establishment>