Who We Serve

The Homeless

• Approximately 254,000 people experience homelessness in LA County each year- 80,000 on any given night.

• Studies show that during the course of year, anywhere from 22,000 to 40,000 people are homeless in the 5 block radius area known as Skid Row.

The Uninsured

• There are 1,755,000 million individuals uninsured in LA County.

• In our area (Central SPA 4) the uninsured rate is the worst in the county, at 53%.

• Less than 10% of our patients have Med-iCal or Medi-Care.

The Underserved

For the uninsured in Skid Row, access to medical care remains poor.

• 36% of people in Central SPA 4 report being unable to access medical care (compared to 27% for Los Angeles County overall).

A community with tremendous unmet need...

The following are some pertinent health statistics in Skid Row:

Medical Stats:

• Deaths from AIDS, suicide, homicide, cirrhosis, and accidents all occur at higher rates in Central Los Angeles than in the County as a whole.

• More than 30% of homeless adults have one or more chronic illnesses (Hypertension, diabetes, etc).

• Communicable disease rates are strikingly higher in Central LA compared to the County as a whole (TB 3 - 4 times higher, AIDS - 3 times higher, Syphilis 4 times higher, Hepatitis B 2.5 times higher).

Dental Stats:

• Access to dental care in SPA 4 is the worst in all of LA County- 30% of the population reports needing dental care and being unable to obtain it.

• Since the expansion of LAMCC's dental clinic in 2003, wait time for appointments has gone from 2 weeks to over 2 months.

Mental Health Stats:

• Studies show more that one third or more of the homeless have a major mental illness.

• A survey in 2002 found that more than 50% of the LAM's rehab participants had symptoms of depression, 25% had psychotic symptoms, 22% had attempted suicide, and only 7% were under the care of a psychiatrist or psychologist.

• The County's Mental Health Clinic is overwhelmed with patients, and many who do get appointments there do not have their needs adequately met. Additionally, cutbacks are currently planned due to the County budget crisis.

Pediatric Stats

• Recent counts find 700 - 800 children living in the hotels and shelters of Skid Row.

• Children who have Medi-Cal are usually assigned to providers outside of Skid Row, but their parents cannot get them there.

• Prior to LAMCC's "Docs 2 Kids" opening in 2004, there was no stationary pediatric clinic in Skid Row.

• Homeless children suffer 2 times as many respiratory infections and 5 times as many gastrointestinal infections compared to the general pediatric population.

• Due to poor nutrition, homeless children are 50% more likely to be iron deficient.