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Release Date: December 19, 2007

National Homeless Memorial Day

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, December 21, 2007, the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness (LACEH&H) and the National Coalition for the Homeless, in cooperation with New Directions, Inc., will observe National Memorial Homeless Day with the release of Dying Without Dignity, an analysis of 2,815 deaths of homeless people in Los Angeles from 2000-2007.

DATE:
Friday, December 21, 2007

TIME:
8:30 a.m.

LOCATION:
New Directions Regional Opportunity Center
11303 Wilshire Blvd., VA Bldg. 116
Los Angeles, CA 90073

Key findings of Dying Without Dignity, according to Bob Erlenbusch, Executive Director, LACEH&H include:

Over a 7.5 year period, homeless people have died at an average of more than one per day
85% of the deaths are male
Over 40% are Caucasian; 30% are Hispanic and 25% are African-American
The average age at death is 48 years old: Ages range from unborn to 89 years old. On average, a homeless person’s life is 36% shorter than a housed person. However, a homeless Hispanic woman’s lifespan is 49% shorter
The leading causes of death are cardiovascular disease coupled with substance abuse.

While the report contains seven major recommendations for both the city and the county of Los Angeles, including improved access to primary and preventive care, the major recommendation is a regional priority to end and prevent homelessness through creating permanent housing.

“It is a disgrace that we are the homeless capital of the United States and on National Homeless Memorial Day the message from our elected officials is that during this holiday season ‘there is no room at the inn’,” states Erlenbusch. “How many homeless people have to die on the streets each year, alone and without the dignity each human deserves, before our Mayor and other policymakers will make ending homelessness in this community a top priority?”

Says, Toni Reinis, Executive Director of New Directions: “We have an opportunity NOW to clean up years of ineffective and under funded public policies. We know what it will take to end homelessness. We need to stand up and make housing and caring for our citizens a matter of pride, rather than a local and national disgrace.”

In addition to the press conference, New Directions will host a brief ceremony remembering those homeless veterans who passed away in 2007.

For driving directions, please see accompanying attachment, or call New Directions at (310) 914-4045.

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