Tag: homelessness

6K Volunteers Recruited to Count L.A.’s Homeless as Numbers Skyrocket

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Los Angeles County has initiated a massive effort to enumerate its homeless population amid a worsening crisis. This comprehensive task, led by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, is enlisting around 6,000 volunteers for a three-day street tally. This large-scale operation, which started on Tuesday night, is not just a mere count; it’s a crucial step toward understanding and addressing the escalating challenge of homelessness in the city.

The initiative, known as the “point-in-time” count, is more than just a headcount. It’s a strategic approach to gauge the scope of homelessness, aiming to identify the needs of the unhoused, including essential medical services, mental health care, and support for substance abuse issues. This count is particularly significant in light of the staggering increase in homelessness in the area. Reports indicate a 70% rise in Los Angeles County and an 80% surge in the city since 2015.

Recent statistics paint a grim picture of the situation. In 2023, over 75,500 people were reported homeless on any given night in L.A. County, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. The city of Los Angeles alone accounted for about 46,200 of these individuals. These figures highlight the urgency of the issue, which has seen a proliferation of temporary shelters, including cars, tents, and makeshift structures in public spaces like parks and sidewalks.

The plight of homelessness has not gone unnoticed by local government officials. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who declared a state of emergency on homelessness on her first day in office in December 2022, underscored the crisis during the count’s kickoff in North Hollywood. “Homelessness is an emergency, and it will take all of us working together to confront this emergency,” Bass stated, emphasizing the count’s importance in tackling the crisis.

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Mayor Bass’s administration has taken steps to mitigate the situation, moving over 21,000 unhoused individuals into temporary shelters, including leased hotels, in 2023. The city has also been actively clearing outstreet encampments and working on additional housing projects.

The yearly homeless census is not solely a local endeavor; it’s a mandated federal obligation. Conducting this count is essential for Los Angeles and other cities to remain eligible for certain types of federal funding. This makes the accuracy and thoroughness of the count critical for securing the resources needed to combat the homeless crisis effectively.

As California residents grow increasingly frustrated with the escalating homeless population, this count comes at a crucial juncture. It reflects the community’s commitment to understanding and addressing the complex needs of its unhoused residents. The results of this count, expected to be released in late spring or early summer, will be pivotal in shaping the city’s approach to a problem that has become a defining challenge for Los Angeles.

This extensive volunteer effort, one of the largest of its kind, is a testament to the community’s resolve to tackle an issue that affects not just the homeless population but the entirety of the city’s social fabric. As volunteers traverse the streets of Los Angeles, their findings will lay the groundwork for strategies and solutions to one of our time’s most pressing social issues.

February 2, 2024
Los Angeles Turns to AI for Early Detection and Aid for Potential Homelessness

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For Dulce Volantin, a single phone call can change lives; that call was a lifeline she didn’t see coming. Dulce and her partner, Valarie Zayas, lived close to Venice Beach in Los Angeles, a small place unlike the fancy LA homes most people think of. Their story is one of romance emerging from turbulent backgrounds. They had a touching story of finding love after facing many challenges, including dealing with gangs. Dulce had mental health problems, and Valarie was trying hard to find a job. They were apprehensive about becoming homeless.

However, a call from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services offered a glimmer of hope. This was no ordinary check-in. Instead, Los Angeles was planning a groundbreaking strategy to tackle homelessness by forecasting it through the power of artificial intelligence (AI).

Dana Vanderford, spearheading the Homelessness Prevention unit, likens the situation to a “bucket with a hole in it.” While the existing measures help refill the bucket, the underlying problems remain unaddressed, causing it to keep draining.

The introduction of the AI program aims to seal that leak. It’s an ambitious venture. Collating data from numerous county agencies, from emergency room stats to sign-ups for food aid, the program employs machine learning to generate a list of individuals on the brink of losing their homes.

Bridging Technology and Human Touch in Homelessness Prevention

But data is just the starting point. Humanity fills in the gaps. Elizabeth Juarez, one of the 16 dedicated case managers, understands that while AI can hint at potential homelessness, it takes a human touch to convert these leads into tangible help. This task isn’t straightforward; many are skeptical or have already succumbed to despair by the time they’re reached.

When Juarez finally connects, she doesn’t just offer assistance—she paints a future where $4,000 to $6,000 will fend off impending instability. Whether paying off payday loan debts, providing e-bikes, or ensuring food is on the table, the goal is holistic well-being.

Ricky Brown’s journey is a good example. At 65, Ricky’s already unstable financial position was thrown into turmoil when he unexpectedly became the sole guardian of his three grandsons following the sudden death of his ex-wife. The burden of added responsibilities made his modest apartment in LA’s Crenshaw district feel overwhelmingly cramped. Fred Theus, a county case manager, stepped in to weave a support system for Ricky and his family, showing that the direst situations can be averted with the proper assistance. Despite the complexities and the constant race against time, Fred stands as Ricky’s beacon of hope in challenging times.

The Promise and Future of AI-Driven Homelessness Prevention

This AI-driven program, now two years into its implementation, has already helped over 560 individuals. Many have managed to retain their homes, indicating the initiative’s promise. But its real success lies not just in the present but in the longevity of its impact. Plans for a comprehensive randomized control trial Nanaimo objectively assesses the program’s efficacy by comparing participant outcomes against non-participants.

Janey Rountree of the California Policy Lab at UCLA emphasizes the need for discernment. “When millions seem vulnerable, pinpointing the 1% to 2% who might access homelessness is critical,” she explains.

By 2026, we’ll have a clearer picture of the initiative’s long-term efficacy. But even now, LA’s endeavor is setting precedents, with San Diego County gearing up for a similar venture.

Dulce and Valarie’s present circumstances vividly illustrate the transformative potential of this program. They now have a happy home filled with good memories. A special phone call started their journey to a better life. This shows how using technology and caring for people can work together. It’s not just about stopping a bad situation but creating a brighter future for everyone.

October 11, 2023
Lawsuit Targets Los Angeles Over Bass’ Emergency Authority and Homeless Situation

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A lawsuit was filed Monday, September 25th, against the City of Los Angeles over Mayor Karen Bass’ emergency authority over the homelessness crisis. Fix The City, a non-profit organization advocating for responsible urban planning and governance, filed the lawsuit.

Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness in December 2022, just after being elected. Homelessness has long been a problem in Los Angeles, with rates rising even higher over the past few years. Bass reworked her declaration in July 2023 to authorize her to confiscate property and use it for temporary housing. The statement also allows the suspension of competitive bidding on contracts that last less than a year and issues orders and directives to end the homelessness crisis.

Fix the City’s lawsuit challenges the mayor’s use of emergency powers. The organization claimed the mayor’s declaration allowed her to “overstep her authority by wielding emergency powers that stretch beyond their intended scope.” Their information continued, “The mayor can unilaterally execute contracts, suspect competitive bidding laws, issue new rules, orders, and regulations that take effect immediately, and commandeer property — all without any due process, any requirement of public hearings or public involvement of any kind including the city’s neighborhood councils.”

Fix the City acknowledged that homelessness is a problem in Los Angeles but asserted that it should be addressed through legal and transparent channels. They cited the 2015 declared shelter crisis as an example of using proper channels to address homelessness. Their statement read, “We take no issue with the declaration of a crisis of homelessness provided that such a declaration does not deprive the public of its rights.”

This is not the first time Fix the City has been involved in lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles. The organization has a history of filing suits for laws and developments surrounding creating affordable housing and public transportation. Los Angeles has attempted to solve the lack of affordable housing and limited access to public transportation over the past decade. Fix the City has previously filed lawsuits against L.A. City’s mobility plan, L.A.’s Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentives, housing developments in Hollywood and Koreatown, and attempted to block updates to L.A.’s Hollywood Community Plan. These developments aim to solve the homelessness emergency and ease traffic congestion in Los Angeles.

Public transportation and homelessness in Los Angeles go hand-in-hand. The City is currently nearly impossible to navigate without a car, making it almost impossible to keep a job without owning a car. Housing prices have skyrocketed within the past few years, and many Los Angeles residents struggle to pay rent and keep up with car payments and maintenance. Access to better and more reliable public transportation would be transformative for the City and its residents.

Bass’ office has not yet commented on the filing of the lawsuit. According to the Los Angeles Times, Clara Kruger, a mayoral spokesperson, said, “The complaint was just filed, and we will take time to review it.”

October 3, 2023