Californians pushed into homelessness by high housing costs and low income, says study.

A new study by the University of California, San Francisco found that high housing costs and low income are major drivers of homelessness in California. The study surveyed nearly 3,200 homeless people and found that when they lost housing, their median household income was $960 a month, and for renters on leases it was $1,400 a month, of which on average half went to rent. The study recommends policies that focus on offering housing and emergency rental assistance, rather than policies emphasizing punishment or stigma. The report also found that substance abuse and issues with mental health were common and predated becoming homeless.