LOS ANGELES—During the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall deaths of homeless people in Los Angeles County increased by 56 percent compared to the previous 12 months—a spike partially attributable to the virus, though drug overdoses continued to be the population’s top killer, according to a report released on April 22.
According to the report by the county Department of Public Health, a total of 1,988 homeless deaths were recorded from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, up from 1,271 during the previous 12 months.
Drug overdose remained the leading cause of death among the homeless during the pandemic-onset year, with such fatalities increasing by 78 percent during the first year of the pandemic, compared to the previous 12 months, according to the study.
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