It was followed by heart disease, 14%; traffic accidents 11%; homicide, 5%; and suicide, 4%. Consequently, while overdose declined slightly as the leading cause of death among homeless people, the dramatic gap with the general population only widened. ""We have medically oriented outreach workers trying to reach people in all settings, whether temporary, permanent housing or street settings," Nicholas said. "Homeless people are also disproportionately vulnerable to traffic accidents. Nicholas said his team learned in working with the county transportation department that about 30% of all traffic deaths were of unhoused people.The 315 traffic deaths recorded in 2024 were 25% more than the prior year and accounted for about 30% of all traffic deaths across the county, Nicholas said.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 10, 2026 20:57 UTC