Thousands of volunteers will participate in a three-night count of Los Angeles County's homeless population, offering a glimpse into the lives of those experiencing homelessness and providing valuable data for policymakers.
In a little more than a week, thousands of volunteers will spread across Los Angeles County to count individuals experiencing homelessness. Over three nights (February 18-20), these volunteers will walk or drive across the county, armed with maps of their assigned census tracts, a smartphone app for recording their findings, and instructions to avoid intruding upon those they count. They are asked not to lift the flaps of tents they encounter.
Volunteers gather at approximately 150 deployment centers, where they receive flashlights, maps, and assemble into small groups for the annual point-in-time count, part of a nationwide effort usually conducted in January. This year, Los Angeles delayed the count due to the wildfires. Volunteers, trained to identify individuals likely experiencing homelessness, will note whether they counted an individual, a tent, a makeshift dwelling, or a car. They do not estimate how many people might be in a tent, as those estimations are made later by researchers. Some volunteers engage in brief conversations with the individuals they encounter. Last year, in Lincoln Heights, a group of three counters observed a bus stop where a man and a woman with a substantial amount of belongings stood. Were they individuals waiting for a bus, or homeless individuals with their possessions, perhaps also waiting for a bus? Someone in the car rolled down the window and explained that they were conducting the homeless count. The woman standing at the bus stop exclaimed, “I’m one of 'em!” This endeavor is inherently imperfect. However, it is unique in bringing together approximately 5,000 volunteers over three nights not just to see homeless individuals, but to feel the cold air and walk through the darkness. It can be uncomfortable and occasionally a little frightening (although volunteers are always instructed to prioritize their personal safety and avoid entering any unsafe areas). This brief experience offers a glimpse into what L.A. nights are like for individuals experiencing homelessness. 'You can't help but wonder literally, 'What is it like to live on the concrete?'” says Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the chief executive of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which organizes and manages the count. Adams Kellum will participate in each night of the count. She states that LAHSA could never afford enough professional counters to replace volunteers. 'And we lose community engagement if we do,' she adds. Part of the experience of being on the count, she said, is 'knowing the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis.' LAHSA also tallies people living in shelters and other temporary housing. (Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank conduct their own separate counts.) The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority also conducts a weeks-long demographic survey conducted by USC's School of Social Work, utilizing paid data collectors. This survey is already in progress, and nearly 3,000 unhoused individuals had been interviewed by late January. There are other private-sector, professional studies of street homelessness. The Rand research organization has conducted long-term surveys of unhoused individuals. In a study of Venice, Skid Row, and Hollywood — three communities with large homeless populations in Los Angeles — from late 2021 to late 2022, Rand researchers found increases in homelessness. In contrast, the county's point-in-time count in January 2023 found decreases in those communities. Such variation only emphasizes the need for continued data collection and analysis, including the point-in-time count. The tally a year ago registered a 2.2% drop in homelessness in the city of Los Angeles, and found the rate flat in the county overall. More dramatically, it showed a 10.4% drop in the number of homeless people living unsheltered (as opposed to in shelters and temporary housing) in the city and a 5.1% drop in the county. This data is crucial and valuable for policymakers. But some of the most profound lessons — what volunteers experience when they venture out into the night — cannot be conveyed in numbers. You simply have to be there
Local News HOMELESSNESS VOLUNTEERS LOS ANGELES COUNT LAHSA DATA SOCIAL SERVICES
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