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Homelessness On The Rise In LA County

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Homelessness jumped 16 percent in the last two years in Los Angeles County.

There are 58,423 homeless people in Los Angeles, which rose from 50,214 in 2011, according to a report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

"Over the past year, we've seen a significant reduction in federal resources available to fight homelessness," said LAHSA executive director Michael Arnold. "The increase we see today in our homeless population demonstrates the direct relationship between resources to address the problem and our ability to have an impact."

Homeless single adults jumped from 35,838 in 2011 to 46,303 in 2013.

The number of unaccompanied youth increased 12 percent, from 366 in 2011 to 817.

Homeless veterans, however, decreased 23 percent, thanks to federal funding.

"The response to the veterans' crisis was swift and decisive and had bi-partisan support. This clearly demonstrates how the right resources, effectively targeted, can prevent and end homelessness," Arnold said.

There was also a reduction in the number of homeless families. In January, the report counted 6,678 homeless family members, which was down from 9,218 two years ago.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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