Drugs and alcoholism are a problem for many of the homeless.
The following numbers were released by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ Office, today after the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released its Point in Time (PIT) Count.
- Homelessness reported to have declined for two years in a row in L.A. for the first time.
- Street homelessness reduced by 17.5% since Mayor Bass took office in December of 2022. This is the largest decrease over two years since the Point in Time Count began in 2005.
- The number of makeshift shelters, tents, cars, vans and RVs declined for a second time in a row, down 13.5%.
- Permanent housing placements in Los Angeles City are at an all-time high.
The press release noted, “Mayor Bass’ progress to save lives and reduce homelessness is measurable and visible.”
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath sent out her own press release “A four percent decrease is progress—and a sign that our efforts are making a difference. But 72,308 people are still living without permanent shelter. (With homeless deaths on the street given as 2,508—that means it is a one percent decrease associated with housing.)
“We can, and must, do more,” Horvath said. “Every day, seven lives are being lost on our streets—an unacceptable reality that demands bold, coordinated action.
“That’s why Los Angeles County is launching a new, dedicated department—one that is coordinated, accountable, and designed to meet the urgency of this moment. It will streamline services, break through bureaucracy, and deliver results across all 88 cities and unincorporated communities.”
A RAND Corporation report released last week found that LAHSA’s 2024 figures may have significantly undercounted the number of unhoused individuals in high-impact areas such as Venice, Hollywood, and Skid Row — by margins ranging from 25% to 60%.
In Venice in 2024, LAHSA reported just 173 people and dwellings. RAND’s research team identified 554.
This editor had signed up to work the homeless count in January, as she has done since its inception. But when the Palisades Fire burned about 6,000 homes in Pacific Palisades, she joined the nearly 23,000 new homeless that had to find places to live with either friends, relatives or in a motel.
When she got a message from LAHSA in January about the need to train to recognize and count the homeless, this editor asked if LAHSA was going to count those homeless in the Palisades and Altadena. The woman on the line said, “We have to get those Palisadian people off these calls.”
LAHSA acknowledged that the 2024 and 2025 counts faced challenges — including a significant drop in volunteer turnout.
If homelessness has truly declined, why is ULA (the mansion tax) in effect?
If homelessness across the City, hence L.A. County has lessened, why are all residents paying a half-a-cent sales tax (Measure A) that goes directly for homeless causes?
If homelessness has decreased, why did at least two homeless nonprofits (People’s Concern and St. Joseph’s) receive FireAid money?
There is even a “building” homeless tax.
A resident wrote: “My husband and I are 50-year-residents in the Palisades. We were recently made aware of an additional fee of more than $23 per sq.ft. for the ‘homeless.’”
The couple was in their 80s and the woman said that extra money could impact the ability to build.
CTN contacted the architectural firm Marmol Radziner, who said there is a Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) Affordable Housing Linkage Fee.
Co-Founder Ron Radziner clarified “the point of the way the ordinance was written is to target getting payments from residential spec home developers who build a home quickly and then sell it. By making owners exempt if they do not sell the home within three years of getting their permit, most true community homeowners will never pay this tax.”
The first photo is taken by the airport in Westchester. There should be no one living across from the LAX Airport runway. Why? Lasers, hand-held missiles – it is best to prevent a problem before it might happen.
This man on Lincoln and Washington is most likely going to die on the streets. Notice he is barefoot. In March, the L.A. County of Public Health said in 2023, the most recent year data was available, that there were 2,508 deaths among the homeless. From 2022 to 2023, the mortality rate increased by 1%, after increasing by 2% from 2021 to 2022 click here.
The RV vans that line Washington and Main Street in Venice, are a safety hazard. This one exploded and caught fire on Ocean Avenue, closing the road.
Pacific Palisades is having an influx of homeless. Perhaps they are leaving Skid Row for areas where debris has been removed.
This man was sitting in the Palisades Village Green with his belongings.
Carlos Rodriguez, a former sparkplug winner, was at the gas station yesterday, July 13 when this transient started shouting and screaming. Rodriguez called 911 and the man was taken away – possibly with mental issues.
A Palisades Highlands resident said there is an influx of homeless in her area, but that she called 911, because Mayor Karen Bass had said she would take care of issues. Police came and removed the transients.