Homeless Count 2020: Can We Count On Your Help?
November 28, 2019 12:00 PM
by Deidra Robinson
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Each January, community volunteers take to the streets of Santa Monica to count some of the City’s most vulnerable individuals – those experiencing homelessness on the streets. In 2019, volunteers counted 985 individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica, an increase of 3 percent from the year prior. Countywide, 58,936 individuals were reported, an increase of 12 percent. Each year, the City of Santa Monica looks at these numbers as an indicator of how Santa Monica’s local strategies, in collaboration with LA County regional strategies, are working. Changes in the count offer opportunities to pilot new interventions or reinforce effective approaches.
The City is also investing in homeless service grants and an aggressive and continuous Action Plan, which has included:
- Increased clinical capacity of local outreach teams by launching the new C3 Homeless Outreach Multidisciplinary Team and expanding case management slots for the Homeless Multidisciplinary Street Team.
- Santa Monica Public Library deployed outreach staff and strategies to mitigate anti-social behaviors, including a no-wrong-door approach to service connection.
- Helped shape emerging policies such as best-practice street engagement strategies for cities, 2019-20 priorities for Measure H funding allocation, and the passage of an interim housing facility standard.
- Launched an online curriculum providing tips to help Santa Monicans more effectively engage people experiencing homelessness.
- The We Are Santa Monica campaign shared practical advice on how residents can get involved in the City’s efforts to help those experiencing homelessness.
Through doubling down on outreach efforts, staff and partners made over 34,520 contacts with people experiencing homelessness, connecting them to housing and supportive services when resources were available. In 2020, the Homeless Count will continue to provide vital data on how we’re doing. Volunteers are needed to help with this very important work. Sign up today at santamonica.gov/homelesscount.
Authored By
Deidra Robinson
Motor Coach Operator