Los Angeles Leaders Call for Urgent Action as Homelessness Rates Continue to Rise

Los Angeles city and county officials expressed their disappointment with the latest homeless count, which revealed a 9% increase in homelessness in the county and a 10% jump in the city compared to the previous year. The alarming figures have underscored the need for immediate action to address the crisis.

The annual point-in-time count, conducted in January, reported a total of 75,518 homeless individuals in the county and 46,260 in the city of Los Angeles. These numbers represent a significant increase from the previous year, with 69,144 individuals counted in the county and 41,980 in the city. LA City Mayor Karen Bass, although acknowledging some progress made through initiatives like the Inside Safe program, emphasized the need for greater urgency and allocation of resources to tackle the issue.

Bass called for a national acknowledgment of a state of emergency similar to a hurricane, which would allow the city to bring in FEMA for assistance. Despite relocating 14,000 unhoused Angelenos to housing, the figures persistently rise. The mayor’s Inside Safe program has taken some action by relocating homeless individuals from a South L.A. encampment to housing, but the challenge lies in providing permanent housing solutions.

Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, stressed the need to address the economic forces that continue to contribute to the crisis. Kellum expressed sadness at the increase in homelessness and highlighted the urgency to tackle the crisis that affects countless residents, including children. She emphasized that economic factors push people into homelessness faster than housing solutions can be provided.

Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, voiced her disappointment with the results and called for greater cooperation between the county and the city. Hahn appreciated cities that have actively supported solutions but noted that they are too few and far between. She expressed hope that the new partnership between the county and the city can bring about a turning point in 2023.

The Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA), coordinated by both the city and county, oversaw the count. Volunteers worked in groups of four to survey unsheltered individuals, tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters. LAHSA officials have acknowledged that the end of federal pandemic assistance programs could lead to further housing insecurity and fewer resources for re-housing systems to address the crisis.

To ensure an accurate count for the 2023 census, LAHSA plans to deploy make-up count teams and consider uncounted tracts that lack data. The agency has taken steps to improve the count, including implementing a new counting app, hiring additional personnel, and simplifying volunteer training.

The annual homeless count, initiated in 2016, aims to provide the county with insights into homelessness trends and serve as a guide for allocating homelessness program funds. With homelessness rates on the rise in Los Angeles, city and county officials face the challenging task of finding swift and effective solutions to address this pressing crisis.

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