The California Policy Lab

Opinion | There’s a Way to Nearly Eliminate Homelessness

We're proud to see that LA County's Homelessness Prevention Unit, which uses our predictive model, is cited as a model homelessness prevention strategy in this NYT OpEd:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/o...

Promotional flyer for the “Meeting the Moment” webinar series presented by The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation. The event is titled “Artificial Intelligence and Homelessness” and takes place Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT. The design features gold and teal colors with a large “MM” logo on the left. On the right are headshots and names of speakers: Dr. Matthew Hauenstein (Assistant Research Professor, Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, Notre Dame University); Dana Vanderford (Associate Director, Homelessness Prevention, LA County Department of Homeless Services and Housing); Janey Rountree (Executive Director, California Policy Lab at UCLA); Abra Lyons-Warren (Director, “Housing Is”); moderated by Dr. Dan Wuori (Strategic Advisor, Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation).

How can AI be used to better understand and respond to urgent social challenges like homelessness? Janey Rountree, executive director of California Policy Lab's UCLA site, is one of the panelists for this March 12th Webinar - registration is now open: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

First review for this Researcher role at the California Policy Lab is this Friday, Feb 27th -> capolicylab.org/careers/rese...

Photo of a person typing numbers on a calculator with bills underneath.

What do we know about Californians and financial health? CPL research and hosted research projects focus on a range of topics, including: student debt, Buy Now Pay Later loans, debt collection, tax credits, household mobility, SNAP's impact on finances, and more: capolicylab.org/topics/measu...

Screenshot says "Beyond the Bridge" Film screening + discussion. How can our community solve homelessness in a comprehensive way?

Tonight in #Sacramento from 5 - 8pm. Register here: www.addevent.com/event/zr392y...
"The riveting documentary showcases what the filmmakers learned as they traveled more than 40,000 miles around the country to learn how communities were successfully tackling homelessness."

California Policy Lab: We're hiring

Great job alert! @capolicylab.bsky.social is hiring a labor economics researcher for a remote or hybrid (LA) role.

Design and conduct policy-relevant research in partnership with state and local agencies in California.

Learn more and please share widely: capolicylab.org/careers/rese...

#Econsky

Sign says "WE'RE HIRING!" Researcher (Labor Economics) First review: Feb 27th

#HiringAlert: The California Policy Lab is hiring for a mid- or advanced-career Researcher, focused on labor economics. First review is Feb 27th. Hybrid in Los Angeles, or remote. Full posting: capolicylab.org/careers/rese...

Sign says "We're HIRING"

#HiringAlert: The California Policy Lab is hiring for a mid- or advanced-career Researcher, focused on labor economics. First review is Feb 27th. Hybrid in Los Angeles, or remote. Full posting: capolicylab.org/careers/rese... #EconJobs

CPL update: Meet 3 new CPL staff members + new research:
->racial disparities in police searches in CA
->Prop 36 update for December
->the LPIE exemption college students can use to qualify for #CalFresh
->housing vouchers in Sonoma County
->student loan repayment
capolicylab.org/newsletter/c...

We're thrilled to be selected as an AI at Work Awardee from @schmidtsciences.bsky.social. CPL’s research, led by @revisenretweet.bsky.social, will investigate whether existing job training programs can help workers pursue AI-specific training to help them adjust to changes in the job market.

To be young and dreaming of a 9 to 5 The low-fire, low-hire job market is making it hard for young people to enter the workforce.

"People who start work in a recession tend to earn less over the course of their careers, von Wachter’s research found, making for more divorces, smaller families, and worse health." Prof. Till von Wachter, faculty director of CPL's UCLA site interviewed -> www.marketplace.org/story/2026/0...

Mitigating the Stress of Housing Instability: The Impact of Housing Choice Vouchers on Social Supports, Behavioral Health, and Criminal Justice Involvement - California Policy Lab JOURNAL ARTICLE: Mitigating the Stress of Housing Instability: The Impact of Housing Choice Vouchers on Social Supports, Behavioral Health, and Criminal Justice Involvement The Housing Choice Voucher ...

In 2019, Sonoma County overhauled its system for awarding Housing Choice Vouchers and more than 12k people signed up for a new lottery. A new study (in Housing Policy Debate) focuses on the outcomes of that lottery and the people who were selected to receive a voucher capolicylab.org/mitigating-t...

"The idea is, can you reach people at that critical moment and redirect their pathway out of homelessness?" Janey Rountree spoke with KNX News about the California Policy Lab's work with LA County to predict and prevent homelessness in this "2025 in the news" highlight.

We're thrilled to share these 7 numbers reflecting the work we've done in 2025. Want more? Visit our Year in Review: capolicylab.org/news/califor...

New Analysis Shows Student Loan Distress is About to Go from Bad to Worse - California Policy Lab December 10th, Berkeley, CA — The nonpartisan California Policy Lab (CPL) released a new analysis today, showing that most student loans are still effectively paused and one in four requiring payment ...

The new #StudentDebt fact sheet is available on CPL's website: capolicylab.org/news/new-ana...

Student loans crisis looms as Biden-era payment pause nears end, UC report warns If a newly proposed settlement is approved, 7.7 million people will have to restart loan payments on potentially less generous programs.

"A new analysis from the University of California’s nonpartisan California Policy Lab shows the majority of student loans in the U.S. are not actively being repaid, and one in four loans that are being paid are in delinquency."
Read more at: www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

More Californians are facing $ challenges, based on insights from our California Credit Dashboard. In this 2025 “in the news” highlight, Evan White is interviewed about our analysis showing rising credit card and car loan delinquencies. Watch the full interview: www.ktvu.com/video/1601205

When #CalFresh benefits were jeopardized, CPL's research showed 400,000+ college students could be impacted.
In this "in the news" highlight, Dr. Johanna Lacoe, a co-author of this research, is interviewed about the potential impacts on students. capolicylab.org/news/analysi...

Outlined map of the state of California, made up by headshots of California Policy Lab staff.

Looking for the perfect gift? A donation to the California Policy Lab for #GivingTuesday will help fuel research that leads to practical solutions — so that programs work better, dollars go further, and more Californians have access to stability and opportunity: capolicylab.org/donate/

In our Nov. newsletter:
-> A new analysis shows the # of people admitted to prison each month under Prop 36
-> Two new CPL hosted research publications:
1. Lower admin burdens in SNAP led to improved fin. health
2. Energy costs + overdue energy bills both↗️ 30%
capolicylab.org/newsletter/c...

The California Policy Lab provides independent, practical research that helps our government make better decisions and improve more lives. In this interview, Prof. Till von Wachter explains CPL's research showing the LA wildfires impacted people both inside and outside the directly impacted areas.

California legislative analyst warns SNAP cuts will strain, family state budgets Federal Big Beautiful Bill will slash CalFresh benefits, drop thousands from aid and shift billions in costs to California and counties.

"California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office warned that the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act could strip hundreds of millions of dollars a year in #CalFresh food aid from low-income Californians and shift billions in costs to state and counties."
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...

Fueling Debt: How Rising Utility Costs Are Overwhelming American Families As temperatures cool and Americans’ dissatisfaction with the economy grows, families across the country are staring down a winter season that will be more

@borrowerjustice.bsky.social and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social write about skyrocketing utility debts using @capolicylab.bsky.social credit panel @jmargetta.bsky.social @millennialdebt.bsky.social @edinilaj.bsky.social
tcf.org/content/comm... #consumer

Headed to #2025APPAM? So is the California Policy Lab! Our faculty, staff, GSRs, and affiliated experts will present on topics including criminal justice reform, social safety net + college students, housing, credit data, linking data, and more! See you in Seattle! www.appam.org/conference-e...

Update: With California State University students included, there are 414,000 college students who receive #CalFresh in the UC, California Community College, and CSU systems: capolicylab.org/news/analysi...

NLIHC (@nlihc.org) #FOTW: In 18 States, Renters Must Earn More Than $30 an Hour to Afford A Two-Bedroom Apartment at Fair Market Rent

Why are so many people being pushed into homelessness?

☑️ Nearly half of all U.S. workers now earn less than the hourly wage needed to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment.

☑️ In CA, workers must earn nearly $50 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Is The Student Loan Safety Net Unraveling? | KQED We talk about why California’s student loan delinquency rate is soaring, and how a broken repayment system is pushing borrowers deeper into financial distress.

🎙️ON AIR:

We're talking to @evanbwhite.bsky.social, @millennialdebt.bsky.social and @jmargetta.bsky.social about why California’s student loan delinquency rate is soaring.

❓Do you have student loans? What has your repayment experience been like?

📻 Listen:

Have questions about the current #StudentLoan situation? Get your answers at 9am by tuning into KQED's Forum with a panel of experts, including the California Policy Lab's own Evan White, who worked for the #CFPB and is a co-author of CPL reports on student debt: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...

Is The Student Loan Safety Net Unraveling? | KQED We talk about why California’s student loan delinquency rate is soaring, and how a broken repayment system is pushing borrowers deeper into financial distress.

Tomorrow on @kqedforum.bsky.social: CPL's @evanbwhite.bsky.social will join with @millennialdebt.bsky.social and @jmargetta.bsky.social to discuss the latest on student loans - including a sharp increase in delinquencies: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...

Students ‘panicking’ about looming SNAP delays There is special concern about how delays in this program will affect students of all ages and their ability to receive an education.

There is special concern about how delays in this program will affect students of all ages and their ability to receive an education.