The numbers from the 2018 L.A. and countywide homeless count are in and are showing a small decline in overall homeless numbers: 53,195 in the county and 31,516 in the city.
2018 Homeless Count numbers are out, so we opened the phones
— AirTalk (@AirTalk)
2018 Homeless Count numbers are out, so we opened the phones https://t.co/unQT9BkXN4 pic.twitter.com/ICxlltxmq8
— AirTalk with Larry Mantle (@AirTalk) June 1, 2018
The number of people who are chronically homeless decreased by 16 percent. However, the number of people experience homelessness for the first-time went up.
— AirTalk (@AirTalk)
https://t.co/unQT9BkXN4 pic.twitter.com/MST52lBWqP
— AirTalk with Larry Mantle (@AirTalk) June 1, 2018
People who are homeless for the first time, rather than chronically, are often homeless for a different set of reasons -- often having to do with economics and housing affordability, rather than mental or physical health issues.
— AirTalk (@AirTalk)
https://t.co/unQT9BkXN4 pic.twitter.com/IkEpAAQokG
— AirTalk with Larry Mantle (@AirTalk) June 1, 2018
So why are there more people experiencing homelessness for the first time? How have Measure H and HHH funds been used so far? What are the 2018 numbers and larger trends and what do they tell us about how services and resources should be focused going forward?
— AirTalk (@AirTalk)
https://t.co/unQT9BkXN4 pic.twitter.com/dfdpKAlgFE
— AirTalk with Larry Mantle (@AirTalk) June 1, 2018
Resources:
LAHSA Coordinated Entry System (CES) or Help for the Homeless
Mental Health Resources and Other Needs
Further housing resources:
Guests:
Jonathan Hans, manager of community engagement for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which conducted the count
Va Lecia Adams Kellum, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center which works with working poor families, and homeless men, women and children; they are based in Venice and service L.A. County
Gale Holland, reporter for the L.A. Times covering homelessness and poverty; she tweets
