Despite major investments in housing and intervention programs, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Los Angeles area continues to climb, with results of the most recent count released Thursday showing a 9% year-over-year increase in homelessness in the county, and a 10% jump in the city.
According to the results of the point-in-time count conducted in January, there were 75,518 people experiencing homelessness in the county, and 46,260 in the city of Los Angeles.
That’s up from 69,144 in the county last year, and 41,980 in the city.
The figures continue a steady climb in the number of Southland homeless people over the past five years. In 2018, there were 52,765 homeless counted in the county, and 31,285 in the city.
“These results are disappointing,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement. “It is frustrating to have more people fall into homelessness even as we are investing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and resources into efforts to bring people inside. I appreciate the cities that have stepped up and supported solutions, but these numbers prove that solutions-oriented cities are too few and far between.
“I hold out hope that the new partnership between the county and city of Los Angeles will make a difference and help us more effectively address this crisis. 2023 needs to be a watershed year for us where we turn these trends around.”
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint powers authority coordinated by both the city and county of Los Angeles, coordinated the count, which was conducted between Jan. 24-26 across the county.
Volunteers worked in groups of four to count the number of unsheltered individuals, tents, vehicles and makeshift shelters in their census tract.
In January, LAHSA officials stated that the one-time federal pandemic assistance programs ending could lead to more housing insecurity and fewer resources for re-housing systems to respond.
LAHSA officials previously stated that for the 2023 count, they would deploy make-up count teams to make sure every census tract is counted, and consider tracts that do not have data to be uncounted.
The agency took several steps to improve this year’s count, including implementing a new counting app, hiring a demographer and two data scientists, simplifying volunteer training and adding accountability measures.
The annual count began in 2016 to provide the county with analysis and trends of people experiencing homelessness, and to provide a blueprint for distributing homelessness program funds.
It’s time for CA to enact “opposite day”. Start doing the exact opposite of everything we’ve been doing.
The current path is total destruction.
Obviously, the people in control from Gov. Newsom to DA Gascon, and all the fine humans in between have this as their design and goal. They want this current civilization destroyed for their own sick and debased benefit.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crjq_PQAFp0/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Former Sheriff Villanueva characterized the current situation as a HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. Although he was not my favorite person, I tend to agree and feel that the bureaucracy is both enabling and benefitting from the money thrown repeatedly at the problem.
Yet, somehow Sepi and her campaign will attempt to make a carveout for this tiny 1.9 square miles and claim that she reduced homelessness.
Sepi will likely be using the same figures and rationale utilized by Lindsay Horvath which was bogus.
The results are in. Despite the incredible amounts of time and money spent trying to help the homeless, there are now 10% more than there were last year.
What we are doing is not working. It’s time for law enforcement to take over.
The streets of West Hollywood are filthy with vagrants and filthy bums. Taxpaying residents deserve much, much better!
Where in yiur mind should law enforcement take them? What is your plan?
Wow, WhQ,
I could not agree with you more!
Law enforcement? Except they are no longer working thanks to defunding. Seriously, stop blaming the remaining uncaged individuals for this city’s demise. It isn’t that simplistic. period.
How about Democrats STOP importing millions of impoverished Third World illegal aliens with LA as there #1 destination.
Most homeless aren’t the evil illegals you see in your racist mind. Maybe think before you post something both hateful and wrong.
Again!
Bravo!
We already know the count… Too many, and continues to grow. It’s all about mental health and substance abuse.
Why bother counting. I woukd rather count buses taking them to my imaginary tent city, 2 hours into the desert. Homeless people don’t belong inside cities. Take care of them, but far away from city folk.
Always felt that would be a remedy. Tented housing, which they seem to prefer, facilities for eating and personal care, medical treatment plus remedial services for future gainful employment. Quasi summer camp/military camp.