In just over a week, thousands of volunteers are set to gather throughout Los Angeles County to conduct a count of the homeless population. Over three evenings, from February 18th to 20th, these volunteers will spread out, equipped with maps of specific census tracts, a smartphone app to log their findings, and instructions to be unobtrusive regarding those they count. There’s a clear directive: No peeking into tents encountered.
Volunteers convene at around 150 different locations, where they receive flashlights and maps, and form small teams for this annual event, part of a national endeavor that’s usually held in January but was postponed here due to recent wildfires. They’ve been trained to assess whether an individual appears to be homeless and record whether they see a person, tent, makeshift shelter, or vehicle. However, they refrain from estimating the number of people inside a tent—researchers handle those assumptions later.
Occasionally, volunteers engage with the homeless individuals they meet. For example, last year in Lincoln Heights, three volunteers drove by a bus stop where a man and a woman were standing with numerous belongings. Were they simply waiting for the bus, or were they carrying all their possessions because they were homeless? Seeking to clarify, someone in the car rolled down the window and explained their purpose. The woman at the stop declared, “I’m one of ‘em!”
This task isn’t perfect, of course. However, it’s unrivaled in bringing out about 5,000 volunteers over several nights, giving them a firsthand experience of the chilly night air and the darkness that homeless individuals regularly endure. It can be unsettling and a bit intimidating, but volunteers are always advised to prioritize their safety and avoid any areas that seem unsafe. It offers a brief insight into what Los Angeles nights feel like for those without shelter.
“You can’t help but wonder, ‘What would it really be like to live on concrete?’” reflects Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the organization behind the count. Adams Kellum participates each night, asserting that LAHSA could never afford to hire enough professional counters to replace this volunteer force. “Plus, losing community engagement would be a significant drawback,” she points out. A key aspect of participating, she notes, is “understanding the scale of this humanitarian crisis.”
The agency also counts individuals in shelters and temporary accommodations, with Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank conducting their own separate counts. Alongside, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority carries out an extensive demographic survey, executed by USC’s School of Social Work using paid data collectors. This survey is already in progress, with nearly 3,000 homeless individuals interviewed by late January.
Other professional studies also delve into street homelessness. For instance, the Rand research organization has conducted long-term surveys of homeless people. One study covering Venice, Skid Row, and Hollywood—areas with significant homeless populations—revealed increases in homelessness from late 2021 to late 2022. Conversely, the county’s point-in-time count in January 2023 noticed decreases in those same areas. Such discrepancies highlight the ongoing need for data collection and analysis, including point-in-time counts.
Last year’s count noted a 2.2% decline in homelessness within Los Angeles city, with rates remaining steady across the county overall. More notably, it reported a 10.4% reduction in unsheltered homeless individuals in the city and a 5.1% drop countywide.
These statistics hold substantial value for policymakers, yet some of the deepest insights come from what volunteers experience firsthand during those nighttime counts. To truly understand, you simply have to be there.
