Homelessness for children and families isn’t improving – the trends, gaps, and potential solutions
When Los Angeles County and city officials released the results of their latest count of unhoused people in July, they touted the results as a win: “ Over the last two years, our leaders came together to bring people inside, and their efforts have paid off,” said Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who until this past week ran the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Left out of that announcement, however, was any mention of families and children. But data reviewed by LAist show that the situation for families with children has not improved — especially for those living on the street. The number of unsheltered children and teens under 18 went up nearly 22% this year, compared to 2024 — from 1,558 to 1,897. The number of unsheltered families with children in the county increased 18% from 903 to 1,067. The total number of families with children — both sheltered and unsheltered — went up 6% from 3,520 to 3,728. LAHSA says the increases are not statistically significant. Today, we talk with Elly Yu, LAist senior reporter covering early childhood, and Katie Hill, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, about the trends and how to close the gaps. If you have thoughts or an experience to share, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here
We reached out to LAHSA. They provided this statement:
“Every family deserves a safe place to call home. LAHSA is looking closely at this year’s homeless count data and will work alongside its Joint Powers Authority partners at the City and County of LA, as well as service providers and people with lived experience, to strategically direct available resources where they are most needed to help families. With anticipated reductions in funding coming this year at the local, state, and federal levels as well as a major system realignment happening locally over the next 11 months, it will be more important than ever for everyone doing this work to maintain focus on delivering services that have the greatest impact for families who need help the most.”
Why NASA is fast-tracking a nuclear reactor on the Moon
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation and acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy announced plans for the agency to expedite the building of a nuclear fission reactor on the Moon. While NASA has flirted with the idea of having a reactor on the lunar surface in the past, this new proposal would seek designs from outside the agency to help facilitate a launch date by 2030. This directive comes at a time when nearly 20 percent of NASA workforce have opted to leave the agency through a deferred resignation program, and as the Trump administration looks to scale back NASA’s budget to what some call an ‘extinction level’ event for the agency. Joining us on AirTalk to discuss NASA’s motivation to build a lunar reactor and its future amid potential roll backs is Washington Post reporter, Christian Davenport.
What educator made a lasting impression on you and why?
There's no question that educators can leave a lasting impression on us, especially since so many of us spend much of our time in a classroom in our younger years. Some teachers or school administrators go above and beyond in different ways that we never forget, even well into adulthood. Another school year is just about to get underway for SoCal residents, so it's a perfect time to ask you: what educator made a lasting impression and why? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com. Joining guest host Julia Paskin is one of her former teachers, Sheila Dolan, who taught for 40 years and continues mentoring and tutoring today as a learning specialist.
An update on LA County’s budget woes
Los Angeles County is facing mounting financial pressures that will require deep cuts to a wide range of programs and potentially the closure of a public hospital, according to the county’s chief executive officer. Fesia Davenport delivered the news to the Board of Supervisors in a presentation last week — and it’s not just federal funding cuts weighing down the budget. L.A. County faces continuing liabilities from systemic child sexual abuse at its juvenile detention facilities, costs related to the Palisades and Eaton fires, and the possibility that the state will take over the troubled Probation Department and mandate significant new spending at the agency. Today on AirTalk, we get the latest on the realities of our county’s budget situation with Frank Stolze, LAist Civics and Democracy correspondent.
Los Angeles County CEO Fesia Davenport and all members of the LA County Board of Supervisors were unavailable for this conversation. With files from LAist.
How couples find intimacy and sexual fulfillment after having kids
Having kids changes a relationship. There’s just no way around that. It can bring two people closer, or it can push them apart, maybe temporarily or maybe permanently. For many people in partnership, having kids changes how a couple engages on a sexual level. Children can disrupt intimacy, especially during postpartum, as a woman’s body is recovering and recalibrating to a new reality. Today on AirTalk we’re talking about navigating intimacy after kids. How do you talk about it with your partner? What has helped you in rekindling the romance, or redefining the terms of desire, and pleasure, and maybe even sex itself? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. And joining Julia Paskin for this conversation is OBGYN and health expert, Dr. Sherry Ross as well as clinical psychologist and relationship expert Tracy Dalgleish.
Film or flight: What makes a good airplane movie?
As Nicole Kidman often reminds us, there's something special about seeing a film in a theater. The big screen, booming audio, and low lighting engrosses us in the world being brought to life. But even the most devout moviegoers must admit: watching a film on the tiny screen slapped on the back of a Delta economy seat is entirely its own kind of special. Movie watching on a plane isn't just a recreational activity; it's a way to distract yourself from the fact that you're flying at superspeed — 20,000 feet in the air. But why do we turn to films when in flight, and why do our general tastes and openness to movies we would watch otherwise suddenly change on a plane? Really, what makes an ‘airplane movie’ an airplane movie? Joining us on AirTalk is Aisha Harris, host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. We also want to hear from you! What makes a movie good to watch on an airplane? What are your favorite airplane movies? What movies have you watched on an airplane that you never would have otherwise? Tell us about ‘em! Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
