According to the annual homeless count released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority on Friday, Culver City’s number has leaped to 226, for an increase of 85 percent.
Culver City isn’t the only city to have seen a large increase, with Beverly Hills jumping to a 94 percent increase with 31 homeless people. West Hollywood’s population grew by 30 percent and Santa Monica by 20 percent.
Social Services Supervisor Corri Planck said in an interview with WEHOville in January that there are no easy solutions to LA’s homelessness, as homelessness is a result of a number off factors that include poverty, mental illness, and drug addiction.
“What we need regionally is more affordable housing, more housing vouchers and resources,” Planck said.
According to the LHSA, “The data for all 210 communities do not include unsheltered youth experiencing homelessness, defined as adults between the ages of 18 and 24, unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 without a parent or guardian, and children in young families with the head of household aged 24 or younger.”
The reports shows that 32 people in Culver City are living in their car, 45 in their van, and 42 in their camper. That’s a total of 119 people living in vehicles.
Two people were found to be living in tents, and 13 in makeshift encampments.
In addition, one family of three was found to be living in a car, one family of two in a van, and one family of two in a camper.
Culver City also has 42 people in emergency shelters, though none in transitional housing or safe havens. The total number of sheltered homeless people, therefore, is 42. The total number of homeless people overall, again, is 226.
The count can’t be considered exact due to the transient nature of homeless people. However, it does provide a guide and these numbers shouldn’t be ignored.
LAHSA director pf communications Tom Waldman said that, “Across Los Angeles County, the combination of a lack of affordable housing and sky high rents has played a critical role in the increase of people experiencing homelessness. LAHSA believes that with the passage of Measure HHH in the City of Los Angeles and Measure H in LA County the resources are available to significantly reduce this population over time.”