Stranded without help: LA’s homeless migrants
(Image by Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
One in three Angelenos is a migrant. They’re part of our culture, community, and workforce. However, the dream of coming to America can quickly become a nightmare while struggling to secure adequate housing.
There are many unique barriers to housing for migrants: lack of English proficiency, knowledge of legal rights, cultural differences, and more. In California, there are nearly 2.7 million people without legal status, which can disqualify people from government help despite their needs.
Furthermore, political pressure can lead to policies that further complicate the lives of undocumented immigrants. For example, thousands of migrants get bused from border states by their governors to cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Sacramento without a properly planned bridge to housing, leaving those men, women, and children stranded and scared.
The Weingart Center offers housing assistance along with comprehensive wraparound services such as healthcare, advocacy, and legal referrals, including to those who are undocumented — all administered by experts who can meet migrants’ various needs.
Here are some of the most common situations migrants face.
Access to social services and benefits
Migrants experiencing homelessness may face eligibility restrictions depending on their immigration status. They can be blocked from accessing housing, healthcare, food programs, and other forms of support that are crucial to transitioning from street living.
Immigration enforcement fears
Homeless migrants may be reluctant to seek assistance they could be eligible for out of fear of immigration enforcement. For example, many undocumented migrants failed to use California’s laws against eviction during the pandemic because of concerns about detention or deportation.
Language and cultural barriers
Without language support, it can be extremely difficult to navigate systems that could provide much-needed help. There’s been at least a 25% jump in people identifying as Latino while experiencing homelessness, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. L.A.’s annual State of Immigrants report indicates that half of the undocumented are people who have overstayed their visas. Focusing only on Spanish services ignores a significant demographic change in migrants from Asian countries, and it can be hard for agencies to find resources to offer the full range of services needed.
Employment ineligibility
Lacking identification or work authorization can disqualify many migrants from secure employment. Without a steady paycheck to rely on, as well as rising housing costs, migrants can’t improve their housing situation, and this struggle can lead to housing insecurity.
Absent support networks
Studies by the University of Southern California show that migrants tend to overcrowd rather than go unhoused. However, for those separated from family and friends, that isolation can lead to vulnerability and limited access to resources and assistance typically shared within a close community.
Exploitation and labor abuses
Day laborers waiting for work at job centers outside home improvement stores often don’t have a home themselves. Uncertain immigration status and a lack of options leave them vulnerable to abuses like wage theft, unsafe work, and even human trafficking.
Legal complexities
Many homeless migrants don’t have the resources or cultural familiarity to find legal support to help them navigate complex immigration processes. Often, language barriers can exacerbate this poverty. Without legal representation or awareness of their rights, they can get chewed up by the legal system’s demands or exploited by people who prey on disadvantaged migrants.
There isn’t a quick fix for people experiencing homelessness. Each group requires a comprehensive approach that recognizes the intersectionality of their challenges. The Weingart Center is aware of the cultural sensitivities associated with helping homeless migrants and has the resources to work hand-in-hand with other Los Angeles nonprofits and city, state, and federal agencies to create a welcoming community for the ever-increasing homeless migrant population.
