The demographics on the homeless in LA put the shame to US public policy: 5,000 to 10,000 are unaccompanied youth; 20 percent are veterans; 50 percent are Black; nearly 50 percent are women & girls, including single mothers with children; 20 percent have disabilities; nearly 20 percent have jobs; 25 percent are mentally ill; a large percentage have substance abuse problems.

Many commentators try to write off these damning demographics by attributing homelessness to personal pathology–like substance abuse & a high rate of sexual abuse among homeless people–pathologies which prevail in the US population as a whole. To them we simply say, “it’s the rents, stupid!”

The average one-bedroom apartment in LA is over $1,800 a month. What retiree, fast-food or minimum wage worker can possibly afford those rents–even if four people in the family work?

One of the most urgent needs in this country, as any single mother or retiree on Social Security can attest, is for affordable housing. Instead, out of the US 2015 fiscal year budget of $1.11 trillion, military spending accounts for 54 percent ($598.5 billion) & the housing & community category accounts for a pittance of 6 percent ($63.6 billion). Lord knows what the hell the dough is going for since there certainly aren’t new housing projects for the poor & homeless anywhere.

These beautiful young faces are some of the homeless in LA who posed for photos.

Housing is a human right.

(Photos by Martin Schoeller)