Los Angeles, CA (September 15, 2026) — Earlier today, the nonpartisan California Policy Lab (CPL) released a new policy brief focused on the employment and earning patterns of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
The new research was released at an event today that was co-hosted by CPL and by Chrysalis, a nonprofit that serves people navigating barriers to the workforce. CPL shared insights from the new research; Chrysalis presented on their work helping people to secure employment; and Stephanie Jeffcoat, a former Chrysalis program participant, shared her experience securing employment with support from Chrysalis.
“Most people experiencing homelessness in LA County had previously worked in California, and about one in five people are working at the time they’re enrolling in homeless services,” explains co-author Dr. Max Gross, Senior Researcher at the California Policy Lab’s UCLA site. “That suggests there’s an opportunity for workforce programs to operate alongside homeless services helping people secure employment while also increasing their earnings enough to stabilize their housing.”
“Whether someone is experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing, job-focused support can be the thing that makes all the difference, and we see how that fact is borne out in this research,” said Mark Loranger, President and CEO of Chrysalis, a nonprofit that helps people navigate barriers to employment. “Transitional job opportunities help people stabilize and training programs increase earnings—these solutions help someone pull forward on their pathway out of homelessness or prevent it from happening in the first place.”
The new research includes breakdowns by demographic groups, physical and behavioral health conditions, and by the types of homeless services people were enrolled in.
Key findings from the new research:
- The vast majority (80%) of people experiencing homelessness in LA County had worked in California before they enrolled in services.
- Employment rates were moderate to low in the years just before enrollment in homeless services. About half (48%) worked in the four years before enrolling, and 21% were employed at the time of enrollment.
- For people who worked after enrolling in homeless services, earnings increased 27%, but remained low. Average annual earnings two years after enrollment in homeless services were $18,468 for those who worked at least one quarter, or just 21% of Los Angeles County’s area median income.
- Employment rates varied by demographic group and program type.
- In the two years before enrolling in homeless services, members of families and transition-aged youth (18–24) had higher employment rates than other groups.
- Among different types of homeless services, people enrolled in prevention and time-limited subsidy programs were most likely to have worked before enrollment.
Research background
This research was made possible through support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The analysis was conducted in partnership with the California Employment Development Department and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The analysis linked state wage data with enrollment data for more than 95,000 people who enrolled in homeless services between January 2019 and July 2022. This policy brief is a follow-up analysis to a 2020 publication: Employment Among LA County Residents Experiencing Homelessness
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The California Policy Lab generates research insights for government impact. Through hands-on partnerships with government agencies, CPL performs rigorous research across issue silos and builds the data infrastructure necessary to improve programs and policies that millions of Californians rely on every day.
Chrysalis serves people navigating barriers to the workforce by offering a job-readiness program, individualized supportive services, and paid transitional employment. We empower our clients on their pathway to stability, security, and fulfillment in their work and lives.