California’s homelessness crisis is homegrown, study finds

by AngelA HArt KFF Health News

SACRAMENTO — California’s homelessness crisis is a homegrown problem that is deepening amid a shortage of affordable housing and emergency shelter, and it’s often the brutal conditions of living on the street that trigger behavioral health problems, such as depression and anxiety, researchers found in a comprehensive study on homelessness.

The new findings by leading researchers at the University of California show that at least 90% of adults who are experiencing homelessness in the state became homeless while living in California due primarily to the dire lack of affordable housing.

“This idea that homeless people are rushing into California is just not true,” said Margot Kushel, a physician who treats homeless people and the lead investigator of the study for the UC-San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. “There’s so much myth-making around this magnet theory that people who are homeless flock to California, but this is our own problem.” are highly encouraged to still wear face masks.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced it had granted the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine a certificate of product registration (CPR).

“The FDA is pleased to announce the approval of the application and grant of CPR for Tozinameran + Famtozinameran (15 mcg/15 mcg)/0.3 mL Dispersion for Injection with a brand name, Comirnaty Original/ Omicron B.A.4-5,” the agency said in a statement.

“The FDA has granted the CPR with five years validity after a comprehensive evaluation process, extensive clinical trials and thorough assessment of all available scientific data and information provided by the vaccine manufacturer and comprehensive evaluation process,” it added.

Last Feb. 21, Pfizer submitted a CPR application under monitored release for their COVID-19 vaccine to FDA, whose director general Dr. Samuel Zacate has urged pharmaceutical companies to apply and complete requirements for other SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. n

“These are our own policies,” Kushel added, referring to the state and federal governments.

“We did this to people.”

An estimated 172,000 people are homeless in California, the largest homeless population of any state in the U.S. and 30% of the nation’s total, even though California has just 12% of the population. Researchers believe the way the state measures homelessness, though important, represents an undercount because cities and counties tallying their homeless populations in just one day miss people who may be hidden and living in their cars, for instance.

The homelessness study went further than annual point-intime counts by analyzing the experiences of 3,200 homeless adults age 18 and older from October 2021 to November 2022, then conducted in-depth interviews with some participants to gain a better understanding of the state’s overall crisis.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly, who asked for an analysis of the state’s homelessness crisis, said the findings underscore where it must improve. The study could inform the state’s approach to expanding its behavioral health system.

“As we drive toward addressing the health and housing needs of Californians experiencing homelessness, this study reinforces the importance of comprehensive and integrated supports,” Ghaly said in a statement. “California is taking bold steps to address unmet needs for physical and behavioral health services, to create a range of housing options that are safe and stable, and to meet people where they are.”

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials are steering initiatives that include a 2024 ballot measure to expand treatment for mental health and addiction, including building more residential treatment facilities. Newsom is also leading a new program under the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Act, known as CARE courts, to move people into court-ordered treatment. And the administration is seeking to add rent payments as

Southern California Regional Rail Authority Paunawa ng Pampublikong Pagdinig / Pagpapatupad ng LCTOP Low Income Fare Discount Program

Ang Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) ay magpapatawag ng pampublikong pagdinig sa Board of Directors Meeting nito, sa Biyernes, Hulyo 28, 2023 hinggil sa pagbuo at pagpapatupad ng Low Income Fare Discount Program ng Metrolink na pinondohan ng Low Carbon Transit Operations Program ng estado ( LCTOP). Ang layunin ng LCTOP, isang programang pinondohan ng Caltrans, ay bawasan ang mga greenhouse gas emissions at pagbutihin ang pagpapanatili ng mga transportasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng bago at pinalawak na serbisyo ng bus at tren para sa mga komunidad na mahihirap at may mababang kita.

Ang Metrolink ay naglalayong lumikha ng mga oportunidad para sa pagsasama at pakikipag-ugnayan sa komunidad sa pamamagitan ng pag-imbita sa publiko na suriin at magbigay ng feedback sa bagong iminungkahing serbisyo.

Ang pampublikong pagdinig ay ililista sa agenda ng SCRRA Board of Directors Meeting sa: Biyernes, Hulyo 28, 2023 10:00 a.m. https://metrolinktrains.com/about/board-meetings/agendasdocuments/ Ang impormasyon tungkol sa programang ito ay available para sa pampublikong inspeksyon sa website ng Metrolink sa www. metrolinktrains.com o sa lobby ng gusali ng opisina ng punongtanggapan ng SCRRA, na matatagpuan sa 900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017 sa mga regular na oras ng opisina Lunes hanggang Biyernes, mula 8 a.m. hanggang 4 p.m. Ang mga komento at mungkahi ay maaaring isumite nang sinasabi o nakasulat sa pampublikong pagdinig, o i-post bago ang pampublikong pagdinig sa pamamagitan ng pag-click sa opsyong “eComment” upang magsumite ng instant electronic na komento sa www. metrolinktrains.com/ecomments, o sa pamamagitan ng koreo kung natanggap bago ang pampublikong pagdinig na naka-attention sa Metrolink Fares sa SCRRA headquarters office, o i-fax na nakaattention sa Metrolink Fares bago ang pagdinig sa (213) 452-0421. Ang lahat ng pampublikong komento, anumang paraan ng komunikasyon, ay dapat isumite at matanggap nang hindi lalampas sa Hulyo 6, 2023. Ang paksang ito ay maaaring ipagpatuloy ng Lupon sa ibang pagkakataon o petsa sa kanilang pagpapasya. 6/28/23

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ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

Mayon continues ‘quiet’...

town and the Bonga gully in Legazpi City, respectively. The MVN also recorded 263 rock fall events, 102 volcanic earthquakes and eight pyroclastic density currents, which are avalanches of volcanic ash, rock and gases. The S02 gas emissions averaged 925 tons per day on June 25, Phivolcs said.

Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 100 meters before drifting to the west, MVN said. n