Mayor Karen Bass took to the streets of North Hollywood alongside key city, county, and federal partners, signaling the commencement of Los Angeles' latest effort to map the daunting terrain of homelessness with the annual Point-In-Time Count. At a press conference in Tiara Street Park, a rallying point for the census volunteers, Bass underscored the urgency of the city's homelessness crisis, particularly with the upcoming deadline for COVID-era back rent payments looming, a pressure point that could thrust even more Angelenos into the margins. "The Point-In-Time Count is an important tool to confront the homelessness crisis," Mayor Bass stated, according to an official press release.
Pitched against a backdrop where many worry about a roof over their heads, LAHSA's CEO Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, and LAHSA Chair Lindsey P. Horvath from the Los Angeles County Board proudly heralded the commencement of the count. "LAHSA is proud to lead the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count,", Dr. Adams Kellum said, declaring the count a pivotal measure for tailoring policies that bolster rehousing efforts. Working together to confront homelessness has never been more critical, with Mayor Bass announcing a plea for national support just last week, banding together with the US Conference of Mayors' Task Force on Homelessness to aid in the count.
The count extends beyond mere enumeration, rising to represent a confluence of community and compassion, as thousands of volunteers spread across Los Angeles, fuelled by a singular resolve — to hand out hope and humanity among the city's vast homeless population. LA County's Horvath spoke to this spirit of the count, emphasizing, "Across Los Angeles County, we come together each January in an essential effort to understand the scope of homelessness in our community," based on her comments referenced in the press release.
Amidst this concerted push, the Mayor's office detailed strategic calls to action issued by Mayor Bass and the USCM Task Force on Homelessness. Their agenda included a potent suite of measures: rallying for additional housing vouchers, expanding the flexibility of project-based vouchers to foster more permanent housing solutions, and broadening eligibility to embrace unhoused veterans as well. Noted during a packed USCM meeting, the Task Force's concerted plan aims to tackle the multi-faceted beast of homelessness through federal legislative, regulatory, and budgetary channels.
