volunteer vestOn February 22, 2022, neighbors in Winnetka gathered with LAHSA for the Homeless Count. Working together, we went through our neighborhoods to see how many of our neighbors were experiencing homelessness and where they were located. It was nice to get to know some other neighbors while out and it was a short time commitment. If you are interested in the work of LAHSA and learning more, you can check them out here: https://www.lahsa.org/

The Homeless Count is an essential tool in giving us a point-in-time (PIT) snapshot of homelessness. Data from the Count is used to inform the delivery of services and programs for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

Since 2016, the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, overseen by LAHSA, has conducted the Greater Los Angeles Homeless PIT Count annually to gain a better understanding of homelessness across the County and to support applications for federal funding. HUD requires that all communities conduct a census of people experiencing homelessness every other year.

Last year, the Homeless Count’s main component, the unsheltered street count, could not be conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of vaccinations enabled the resumption of the Homeless Count for 2022 with appropriate precautions.

In 2020, the last time the Count could safely be conducted, 66,436 people were found to be living on the street in tents, makeshift dwellings, and vehicles across Los Angeles County. (LAHSA)