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Cheaper to House Homeless than Leave on the Streets in L.A., Says Study
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A two-year study between the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and USC's Center for Community Health Studies and Housing found that housing the homeless is about $80,000 cheaper than leaving them on the streets. The survey found that taxpayers spent $187,288 a year those living on the streets because of their use of hospitals, jails and clinics. Putting people in permanent housing costs $107,032.
A county program that found housing for the 50 most vulnerable people found similar results in a different study.
"We need to show that the taxpayers benefit by having permanent housing and are hoping to see Los Angeles used as a model for managing homelessness," said Elise Buik, CEO of the United Way's L.A. chapter, to the Daily News.
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