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2005 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count - final report released January 12, 2006

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) 2005 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count has been released. Highlights include

• 88,345 people are estimated to be homeless each night in LA County, with 221,363 persons homeless over the course of a year.
• 11% of the 88,345 persons homeless nightly were in shelters, while 89% went unsheltered.
• 87% of homeless families were not sheltered in 2005, while 13% resided in emergency shelters, or transitional housing.
• The City of LA has 54% of the homeless population in LA County.
• 77% of LA County’s homeless population is outside of the Metro Los Angeles Service Planning Area, which includes Skid Row.

Journal Article "Counting the Homeless in Los Angeles County" Published October 27, 2005

1. The most reliable predictors of homelessness at the census tract level were: (a) median household income, (b) percent vacancy, and (c) percent residential use.
2. The “countable” population of homeless residents in Los Angeles County is estimated to be roughly 65,000 to 70,000.
3. The increase in the estimated homeless population to 90,000 is attributable to a separate telephone survey and to estimates of homeless residents in jails, hospitals and other institutional settings. The statistical team was not involved in this aspect of the estimate.
4. Random sampling procedures were not followed in SPA 4, Metro Los Angeles, resulting in an inadequate sample for estimating the homeless population in this region.

"Life on the Streets" Los Angeles Times series on Skid Row

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez (pictured) wrote a compelling five-part series about Los Angeles' skid row. The on-line version includes expanded photo-essays, as well as links to previous "Points West" columns related to homelessness.  The series shines a spotlight on the complex problems of poverty, drug addiction, and the region's shortage of affordable housing and supportive services that created skid row, and the responsibility we share to change it.

• Part 1: "Demons Are Winning on Skid Row" (October 16, 2005)
• Part 2: "A Corner Where L.A. Hits Rock Bottom" (October 17, 2005)
• Part 3: "Offering Compassion, Not a Cure" (October 18, 2005)
• Part 4: "Street Conversations With the Broken-Down Brigade" (October 19, 2005)
• Part 5: "Urban Renaissance Meets the Middle Ages" (October 20, 2005)

Container City

A business called Container City refurbishes used cargo containers into affordable housing.  Los Angeles has a major shipping port nearby, and the finshed units are portable. This might be an interum way of solving a growing problem.  - Ed Beecher, Santa Rosa, CA

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
http://www.lahsa.org
LAHSA is a City-County Joint Powers Authority, an independent unit of local government, formed to address the problems of homelessness on a regional basis.

Los Angeles Coalition To End Hunger And Homelessness - http://www.lacehh.org
LACEHH: Los Angeles Plan to End Homelessness - http://www.lacehh.org/
PDF_files/LAPLAN.pdf
The Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness (LACEH&H) was established in 1985. In 2003 we have grown to hundreds of organizational members and individuals who are organizing, educating, advocating and lobbying through six key projects.

Economic Roundtable
Http://www.economicrt.org
The Economic Roundtable is a non-profit, public benefit corporation organized to conduct research and implement programs that contribute to the economic self-sufficiency of individuals.

Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty
http://www.weingart.org/institute
The Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty, a project of the Weingart Center, is a non-profit, non-partisan, research and policy organization serving the research and networking needs of academics, government, community based direct service agencies, policy-advocacy organizations, the media, philanthropic organizations, policymakers and other members of the community involved with the issues of homelessness and poverty.

Beyond Shelter
http://beyondshelter.org
The mission of Beyond Shelter is to combat chronic poverty, welfare dependency and homelessness among families with children, through the provision of housing and social services, and the promotion of systemic change. The agency's "Housing First Program" is currently being replicated on a national scale.

Bringing America Home
http://www.bringingamericahome.org
This national initiative is dedicated to the goal of ending homelessness and centers around The Bringing America Home Act (H.R. 2897) and other campaign elements.

The Brookings Institution
http://www.brookings.org
In its research, The Brookings Institution functions as an independent analyst and critic, committed to publishing its findings for the information of the public. In its conferences and activities, it serves as a bridge between scholarship and public policy, bringing new knowledge to the attention of decision-makers and affording scholars a better insight into public policy issues.

California Budget Project
http://www.cbp.org/
Just as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is the key advocate and researcher on national budget issues, CBP is the leading respected advocacy voice on the state budget.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
http://www.cbpp.org/
The Center is the leading progressive advocacy voice at the national level working on fiscal policy issues and issues affecting low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The Center specializes in research and analysis oriented toward policy decisions that policy-makers face at both federal and state levels.

Center on Law and Social Policy
http://www.clasp.org/
CLASP is a national non-profit organization with expertise in both law and policy affecting the poor. Through education, policy research and advocacy, CLASP seeks to improve the economic security of low-income families with children and secure access for low-income persons to our civil justice system.

The Central City Association - http://www.ccala.org
Downtown's Human Tragedy: It's Not Acceptable Anymore
http://www.ccala.org/legislative/11_02/Public%20Health
%20Safety%20White%20Paper%20Final.pdf
The Central City Association (CCA), established in 1924, is a business membership organization representing over 300 businesses, trade associations and non-profits employing over 250,000 people in Los Angeles County.In November 2002, CCA released a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of life in Downtown Los Angeles. The report, titled “Downtown’s Human Tragedy: It’s Not Acceptable Anymore” is a public health and safety plan for Downtown’s eastern area, which has a disproportionate share of the county’s homeless population. CCA members strongly believe that the business community has an obligation to address a crisis that affects our entire community. Therefore, CCA’s Public Safety, Health and Homelessness Committee met with Downtown stakeholders and key city and county officials as it crafted the plan over several months.

Coalition on Human Needs
http://www.chn.org
The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies that address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations.

Community Model
http://www.communitymodella.org/
The Community Model offers homeless people with mental illness what they need most to get off the streets, achieve residential stability, and continue on their journey through recovery.

Corporation for Supportive Housing
http://www.csh.org
CSH helps communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness. CSH provides technical assistance and predevelopment loans.

Destination: LIFE
http://www.destinationlife.org
We empower the homeless HIV/AIDS community by restoring self esteem, through providing clean under clothing and other necessary items vital for life on the streets.

Dome Village Homeless Central - http://www.domevillage.org
The National Plan, by Ted Hayes - http://www.domevillage.org/NHP.htm
The architectural structure of Dome Village is a powerful visual, forcing all who see it to confront inhumanity. Dome Village offers a structural alternative for homeless people who are unable, or unwilling to live in traditional shelters. The domes are used as a stabilizing tool to provide affordable transitional housing which is non-threatening to the chronic homeless person or to the neighboring community. We try always to create a positive and innovative approach to housing homeless people. We try to achieve the goals of alleviating homelessness and reducing unsightly encampments in our city. The Dome Village is comprised of all the outreach programs that offer services to its' residents and the surrounding community: Street Without a Name (SWAN), CyberDome, Compton Cricket Club (CCC), and Urban Farm & Orchard (UFO).

Gramercy Place Shelter
http://www.jfsla.org
Gramercy Place Shelter is a three month transitional homeless shelter for families. They provide shelter to families of any configuration with male and female children up to age 18. They offer case management, counseling, parenting, drug and alcohol groups, tutoring and various other psychological and educational groups.

Grass Roots Organizing for Welfare Leadership: GROWL
http://ctwo.org/growl/
Grass Roots Organizing for Welfare Leadership (GROWL) is a national movement of welfare rights and economic justice organizations that challenges the dominant framework around welfare reform from a grassroots perspective.

Help Me Help You
http://helpmehelpu.org/
A nonprofit community development corporation in Long Beach, CA, that that provides supportive services to assist homeless and low income persons obtain permanent housing and become self-sufficient. Programs include educational training, employment assistance, low income housing and other vital services to families with children and individuals.

Housing California
http://www.housingca.org
Housing California is a statewide coalition of over 1,000 affordable housing and homeless organizations.

Lamp Community
http://www.lampcommunity.org
Lamp Community's executive director, Mollie Lowery serves on the Bring LA Home Blue Ribbon Panel. Entering its 20th year of service, Lamp Community operates nine facilities in downtown LA, providing food, shelter and services for people who are homeless and have mental illness. Our nationally recognized model promotes community and supportive services, offers life-long assistance, addresses the whole person, offers flexible employment, provides voluntary health care and educates to eliminate stigma associated with mental illness.

Los Angeles Community Development Department
http://www.lacity.org/CDD/
The mission of the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department is to improve the quality of life in the City by creating economic, social and employment opportunities for individuals, families and neighborhoods in need. The CDD recognizes each homeless individual or family may require specialized and focused case management. Through its Human Services Delivery System the CDD prepares, coaches or assists the City’s more disadvantaged populations to live productively and successfully in an urban environment through an interdependent network of programs, activities and services.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Homeless Advisory Committee
http://www.lasd.org/lasd_services/homeless_advisory_bklt/homeless_advisory.html
In March, 2003 Sheriff Baca convened a Homeless Advisory Committee with the intent of collaborating across the county and mainstream efforts to address homelessness.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
http://www.lafoodbank.org/index.html
Los Angeles Regional Food bank is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization that has been serving the disadvantaged of our community for 28 years. The nation’s largest food bank, it is advocacy oriented as well as the heart of a charitable food distribution network that includes over 1,000 food pantries, shelters, group meal sites, residential treatment centers, soup kitchens, and day care centers in Los Angeles County.

Low Income Mortgage, Affordable Housing & Homelessness
http://www.refinancemortgagerates.org/affordable-housing-homelessness/
This guide has been written to help low income earners and the general public to understand the steps and processes required when purchasing affordable housing, as well as inform homeless people about methods and programs to find accommodation. Apart from providing general information on the basics of refinancing and mortgages, by the end of this guide the reader should have a basic understanding of the following:

• Understand what makes a home affordable.
• Be familiar with the various programs available to people seeking affordable housing.
• Programs and options available to the homeless.
• Knowledge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Organizations that cater to low income / homeless demographic.
• Relevant resources for low income earners.

Midnight Mission
http://www.midnightmission.org
The Midnight Mission is a 90 year provider of direct services to homeless and near-homeless individuals and families.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - South Los Angeles Affiliate
http://www.nami.org
http://www.namicalifornia.org/
NAMI South Central Los Angeles County is a grassroots, family and consumer self-help support and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses, i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

National Alliance to End Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org
The Alliance is a nationwide federation of public, private, and nonprofit organizations working to end homelessness.

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
http://www.nchv.org
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans seeks to eliminate homelessness in the veteran community, and serves as a liaison between branches of the federal government and community-based homeless veteran service providers to shape public policy, educate the public and build the capacity of service providers.

National Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.nationalhomeless.org
The Coalition is a strong advocacy group to end homelessness in the following four areas: housing justice, economic justice, health care justice and civil rights.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
http://www.nlchp.org/
The Center's mission is to alleviate, ameliorate and end homelessness by serving as the legal arm of the nationwide movement to end homelessness.

National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness
http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov
The National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness is the only national center specifically focused on the effective organization and delivery of services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses.

National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness
http://www.nscahh.org/
Works with students and community members across the country to end hunger and homelessness through education, service and action. NSCAHH trains students on strategies to improve or create service programs that meet their community's needs.

The Northeast Valley Health Corporation's Homeless Health Care Project (HHCP)
http://www.nevhc.org/files/homeless.htm
The HHCP is part of the Cooperative Health Care for the Homeless Network - a network of Health Care for the Homeless programs in Los Angeles County. HHCP provides comprehensive medical and case management services for the homeless population of the San Fernando Valley. This project is dedicated to helping people help themselves. The link above connects directly to the Homeless Health Care Project Page, where there is additional information and links to the Cooperative Health Care for the Homeless Network.

People Assisting The Homeless (PATH)
http://www.epath.org
PATH is a regional homeless agency that provides a full continuum of services and housing. Its PATH Mall provides integrated support services that is co-locating dozens of agencies, and has become a national model.

Project i
http://www.kcwh.unimelb.edu.au/projecti/
Project i is a five year study of homeless young people in Melbourne and Los Angeles. The research focuses on young people between 12 and 20 years of age who have recently become homeless. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health in the USA, Project i is a collaborative project between the Key Centre for Women's Health at the University of Melbourne and the Center for Community Health at the University of California.

Santa Monica Police-Homeless Liaison Program
http://santamonicapd.org
http://santamonicapd.org/units/hlpteam.htm
The Homeless Liason Program (H.L.P.) is a specialized law enforcement team delegated the task of handling homeless-related issues in Santa Monica, California. Besides utilizing the traditional law enforcement approach, the Santa Monica Police Department took the unique path of participating in social service efforts as well. The overall goals H.L.P. include ending the cycle for many of the homeless as well as improving the quality of life for the residents, property, and business owners in the community.

Second Harvest
http://www.secondharvest.org/
America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization. Through a network of over 200 food banks and food-rescue programs, they distribute food to 26 million hungry Americans each year, eight million of whom are children.

Tarzana Treatment Centers
http://www.tarzanatc.com
An Integrated Behavioral Healthcare organization providing comprehensive services at locations in Long Beach, Tarzana, Reseda, Northridge, and Lancaster.

Union Rescue Mission
Community Reciprocity Initiative
http://www.urm.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID312006|CHID625014
|CIID1636838,00.html
This document authored by the President of the Union Rescue Mission offers a framework to reduce and mitigate homelessness in Los Angeles.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Antelope Valley Region Office, Lancaster
http://unitedwayla.org
Conveener of the Antelope Valley Homeless Coalition since 1995, dedicated to improve access to services for the homeless in order that they may more easily become self-sufficient and productive members of the community. United Way of Greater Los Angeles is dedicated to "Bridge the Gap" to empower our community's working poor and ensure their social and economic success.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
http://www.ich.gov
The primary activity of the ICH is to develop a comprehensive Federal approach to end homelessness --from Senate Report accompanying FY '03 Appropriations Bill

Welfare Information Network
http://www.financeprojectinfo.org
A Clearinghouse for Information, Policy Analysis & Technical Assistance on Welfare Reform.

Western Center on Law and Poverty
http://www.wclp.org
The Western Center on Law and Poverty is a non-profit legal services program devoted to high-impact poverty law litigation and legislative advocacy in the state of California.

Women's Care Cottage
http://www.womenscarecottage.org
Founded in 1985, Women's Care Cottage (Wcc) is a Los Angeles based nonprofit that helps homeless women and children move off the streets permanently and succeed independently in their homes, schools and workplaces. Operating out of three locations in North Hollywood, WCC offers among other things, transitional & permanent housing, counseling, childcare, education, career training, money management and trauma intervention. Wcc provides immediate access to housing and a personalized array of services designed to meet the unique needs of women and children.