Homelessness Increases in Harbor Area, County

By Ivan Adame, Contributing Reporter

New data produced from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority shows homelessness in the South Bay Harbor Area increased 39 percent since 2013.

Since the prior count, in 2013, volunteers counted 838 new homeless people in the South Bay Harbor Area, totaling to 3,006. Service Planning Area 8, the South Bay Harbor Area, includes San Pedro, Wilmington, Lomita, Carson, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Gardena, El Segundo, parts of Hawthorne, Lakewood,  Lennox and Inglewood.

The Los Angeles  Homeless Services Authority considers different categories of homeless people, among these categories are: chronically homeless people, chronically homeless family members, people who have substance abuse issues, severely mentally ill people, veterans, domestic violence survivors, people living with HIV/AIDS and people who have some sort physical disability or challenge.

The homeless count results showed significant increases in most classifications of homelessness. The largest group of homeless people impacted are chronically homeless people. Their numbers have almost tripled at 1,122, up from 409 two years ago. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines chronic homelessness as an individual or family with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

The numbers of homeless people who have experienced domestic violence have tripled, from 187 to 584. Veteran homelessness has doubled, from 238 to 575. Also, the amount of homeless people who have issues with substance abuse have increased from 680 to 1,084.

Overall, the new data shows that the Los Angeles County has experienced a 16 percent increase since 2013, with 5,650 new homeless people, totaling to 41,175.

One of the most notable changes in homelessness across the county includes a significant increase in the use of tents, makeshift shelters and vehicles, up 85 percent from 2013. There was also a 12 percent increase in family homelessness.

The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, which took place in late January, was an effort of 5,500 volunteers across 108 deployment sites around much of the county.  Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena did not participate because those cities produced their own counts.

Details: http://tinyurl.com/homelessscount2015