Los Angeles CA
12-12-2022 4:10am

Are Homeless Resources Reflective of the February Census

Has the point-in-time count, conducted over three nights in February 2022, brought a significant amount of help to the San Fernando Valley. The next survey will detail the answer.

The LA County Department of Public Health Department has eight service planning areas, allowing the DPH “to develop and provide more relevant public health and clinical services targeted to the specific health needs of the residents in these different areas.” 

The San Fernando Valley is SPA #2 - serving the communities of Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Encino, Glendale, LA Cañada-Flintridge, San Fernando, Sherman Oaks, Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, and others (including Santa Clarita) LA County Department of Public Health

There are three health centers

  • Glendale Health Center 501 N. Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206
  • North Hollywood Health Center 5300 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood
  • Pacoima Health Center 13300 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331

A census of the homeless occurred over three days in February 2022. (point in time)

  • The Number of Tents, Makeshift Shelters, and Vehicles Increased, with Fewer People in Them. A 17% increase – contrasting the unsheltered population increase of 1.4%. To determine an estimated number of persons staying in these dwellings, researchers used demographic surveys from unsheltered persons (both individuals and families) from December 2021 to March 2022.

The summary of that February 2022 survey affecting the San Fernando Valley based on what the respondents were asked is:

  • if they had slept in any of the various types of aforementioned dwellings
  • if so, how many people stayed with them in that dwelling at any given time

Service Planning Area 2 (SFV) Point in Time Count (February 2022) 


Total Cars, Vans, RV’s Tents, and makeshift shelters counted

SPA 2
% of total County Wide
% of total
Cars 511 14.5%  Cars 3,367 15.3%
Vans 351 10%  Vans 2,330 10.6%
RV's 1453 41%  RVs

7,178

 32.7%
Tents 581 16.5% Tents 4,304 19.6%
Makeshift Shelter 614 17.5% Makeshift Shelter 4,786 21.7%
TOTAL SPA-2 3510 TOTAL COUNTY 21,965

Total estimated in dwellings - SPA 2

SPA-2 % of total County Wide % of total
Cars 754 14.6% Cars 4,636 14.3%
Vans 523 10% Vans 3,202 10%
RVs 2115 41% RVs 11.564 35.7%
Tents 731 14% Tents 5,699 17.6%
Makeshift Shelter 1,035 20% Makeshift Shelter 7,226 32.3%
TOTAL SPA-2 5158 TOTAL COUNTY 32,327

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released the results of the 2022 Homeless Count, which suggest that homelessness may be rising more slowly than in previous years.

The results of the point-in-time count, conducted over three nights in February, estimated that 69,144 people were experiencing homelessness in LA County at that time, a 4.1% rise from 2020, and 41,980 people were experiencing homelessness in the City of LA, up 1.7% from 2020. (A count was not conducted in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.)

This year’s Homeless Count results offer a stark contrast to the results of the Homeless Counts between 2018 and 2020, where LA County saw a 25.9% increase and the City of LA experienced a 32% increase.

2022 Homeless Count Results – Homeless Initiative (lacounty.gov)

2022 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Data (lahsa.org)


More News from Los Angeles
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive