Volunteer Shortage Threatens Accurate Los Angeles Homeless Count
Table of Contents
- 1. Volunteer Shortage Threatens Accurate Los Angeles Homeless Count
- 2. What steps is LAHSA taking to address this volunteer shortfall?
- 3. Volunteer Shortage Could Impact Accuracy of LA Homeless Count
- 4. Archyde: Amelia, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. What’s the current status of volunteer recruitment for the homeless count?
- 5. Archyde: That’s a notable number. What are the potential implications of this shortage for the accuracy of the count?
- 6. Archyde: What steps is LAHSA taking to address this volunteer shortfall?
- 7. Archyde: Can you tell us about some of the new improvements LAHSA has implemented to enhance the volunteer experience and data collection process?
- 8. Archyde: For someone considering volunteering for the first time, what can they expect?
- 9. archyde: Is there anything you would like to add to encourage individuals to volunteer?
- 10. If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact this February, consider joining the LA Homeless Count. Visit http://count.lahsa.org to learn more and register as a volunteer.
>What motivates you to contribute to efforts addressing homelessness in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Despite fierce efforts, organizers of the annual Los Angeles Homeless Count are facing a meaningful challenge: a shortage of volunteers. With just days remaining before the count begins on February 20th, 332 volunteer slots remain unfilled across various areas, including Brentwood, Culver City, Del Rey Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles, and Westwood.
This volunteer shortage raises concerns about the count’s accuracy and its ability to provide crucial data on the scope of homelessness in Los Angeles County.
“2024 was a year of profound change at LAHSA, and the Homeless Count results provided us with insightful information about the progress we made and the improvements we still need to make,” said Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum,CEO of LAHSA.“We need our friends and neighbors to come out and help us count again so we can continue to make impactful progress ending homelessness.”
The Homeless Count, a critical component of understanding and addressing homelessness, involves thousands of volunteers spread across the county’s vast 4,000 square miles. Working in small teams, they meticulously document the number of unsheltered individuals, tents, vehicles, and makeshift shelters within assigned census tracts.
Recognizing the importance of accuracy, LAHSA has implemented several improvements to enhance the volunteer experience and data collection process:
A centralized website allows volunteers to conveniently manage their registration, access training materials, and track their participation.
Pre-registration enables volunteers to electronically sign liability waivers, streamlining the check-in process.
Optimized check-in procedures aim to reduce wait times at deployment sites.
A new feature within the Homeless Count app allows volunteers to map their travel paths, ensuring complete coverage within assigned areas.
Redesigned paper census tract maps feature clearer street names and boundaries for enhanced accuracy.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates a biennial point-in-time count of individuals experiencing homelessness.Though, LAHSA has adopted an annual approach as 2016 to provide a more consistent and detailed understanding of the evolving homelessness landscape. The rich data collected informs goverment agencies and policymakers, guiding the allocation of funding and resources for effective interventions.
The Homeless Count is scheduled across several days, spanning different regions of the county:
Tuesday, February 18th: San Fernando and Santa clarita Valleys (SPA 2), Metro Los Angeles (SPA 4)
Wednesday, february 19th: San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3), East Los Angeles (SPA 7)
Thursday, February 20th: Antelope Valley (SPA 1), West Los Angeles (SPA 5), south los Angeles (SPA 6), South Bay/Harbor (SPA 8)
“The safety of our volunteers and unsheltered neighbors is vital,” said Kellum. “We are grateful for the versatility and understanding of our partners and volunteers as we strive for a safe count.”
In addition to the main count,the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count encompasses the Youth Count and the Housing Inventory Count,providing a extensive picture of the diverse needs within the homeless population.
Those wishing to contribute to this critical effort can register as volunteers or learn more by visiting count.lahsa.org.
What steps is LAHSA taking to address this volunteer shortfall?
Volunteer Shortage Could Impact Accuracy of LA Homeless Count
With just days to go before the annual Los Angeles Homeless Count kicks off, the LAHSA is facing a pressing challenge: a shortage of volunteers. We spoke to Amelia Garcia, Volunteer Coordinator for the LAHSA, to understand the situation and its potential impact.
Archyde: Amelia, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. What’s the current status of volunteer recruitment for the homeless count?
Amelia Garcia: Thanks for having me. We are about 332 volunteers short of our goal across various areas, including Brentwood, culver City, del Rey, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles, and Westwood.
Archyde: That’s a notable number. What are the potential implications of this shortage for the accuracy of the count?
AG: The Homeless count relies heavily on the dedication and hard work of volunteers. Each volunteer team meticulously documents the number of unsheltered individuals and their living situations within a designated area. With fewer volunteers, it becomes challenging to cover the vast expanse of Los Angeles County comprehensively, which could lead to an underrepresentation of the true scale of homelessness in our community.
Archyde: What steps is LAHSA taking to address this volunteer shortfall?
AG: We are actively engaging with community organizations, local shelters, and faith-based groups to encourage more volunteers to sign up. We’re also emphasizing the vital role volunteers play in providing essential data that informs policies and resource allocation aimed at addressing homelessness.
Archyde: Can you tell us about some of the new improvements LAHSA has implemented to enhance the volunteer experience and data collection process?
AG: Absolutely! We’ve made significant strides. There’s a centralized website where volunteers can easily manage their registration, access training materials, and track their participation.Pre-registration allows for electronic sign-offs on liability waivers, streamlining the check-in process. We’ve also optimized check-in procedures to reduce wait times and incorporated a new mapping feature within the Homeless Count app to ensure complete coverage of assigned areas.
Archyde: For someone considering volunteering for the first time, what can they expect?
AG: Volunteers will be part of a small team working within a designated census tract. They’ll receive thorough training on data collection protocols and safety procedures. It’s a rewarding experience knowing that their efforts directly contribute to a better understanding of homelessness in our community. Volunteer commitments vary, and we have several options available to suit different schedules and availability.
archyde: Is there anything you would like to add to encourage individuals to volunteer?
AG: every single volunteer makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that no person experiencing homelessness is unseen and unheard. By lending your time and effort, you contribute to a solution, supported by accurate data and a collective commitment to addressing this critical issue.
