Tag: Los Angeles

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica announced on its Facebook page that it is looking for volunteers for the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count that will transpire over three days from January 21, 2025, through January 23, 2025.

The Homeless Count is a countywide event that brings thousands of Los Angelenos together to count unsheltered individuals in the region.

During the event, the LAHSA visually counts people who are experiencing homelessness through approximately 150 Deployment Sites covering the majority of Los Angeles County.

The count is done at night (generally starting after 8 p.m.) to allow most unhoused individuals to settle down for the night.

The data will help collect an essential component in understanding the scope and nature of homelessness in Los Angeles County.

That will be combined with data from the sheltered and youth counts to produce the estimate that will be released next spring. The LAHSA and its partners use the Homeless Count data to deliver services where they are needed most. To learn more and sign up, visit www.count.lahsa.org.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Monday, June 24, the city of Los Angeles removed planters that were placed on the sidewalks by business owners to halt homeless encampments in the region of Highland and Sunset Boulevard.

Homeless encampments have been blocking sidewalks throughout Los Angeles for a period of time impacting businesses in the region with trash and decrement that has impacted foot traffic to businesses in the region.

The planters were placed outside of businesses in May 2024 to halt the blockage of sidewalks and paths to businesses for the past 2 years. According to reports, the planters have helped deter crime in the region.

Last week the city of Los Angeles placed notices noting the planters were obstructions and had to be removed or the city would remove them, as the business owners who installed them did not have permits to do so.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said in a statement to NBC 4 Los Angeles:

“We understand the frustration that local businesses feel about this issue, and we encourage residents to follow the legal process and work with the city to obtain the proper permits to install community beautification projects in the public right of way.”

Sunset Sound Recorders, a business on Sunset Boulevard was surrounded by homeless encampments in earlier February 2024, which impacted business for its high-profile clients who were concerned about safety. In early June 2024, a homeless encampment outside of the business was cleared by city officials.

The removal was part of the Mayor of Los Angeles Inside Safe program which is aimed at housing the homeless in the area. The program has helped move 21,000 Los Angelenos off the streets since December 2022. The program has spent over $341 million as of May 31, 2024. A total of $105 million has been spent by the program to house individuals in motels.

Only 539 individuals are currently in housing, with 305 in limited subsidized housing, 68 in permanent supportive housing. A total of 1265 individuals have housing courtesy of motels that have bene paid for by the program. A total of 842 people have exited the program, with 735 individuals returning to homelessness, 50 being incarcerated and 44 dying.

The Los Angeles Homelessness Service Authority reported more than 75,000 people living in homelessness in 2023 in the region. The number of homeless individuals in LA rose 14 percent from 2022 to 2023.

By Trevor

SHERMAN OAKS—January 17, 2024, marked 30 years since the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Northridge that left 57 people dead and caused major damage to buildings, businesses and freeways in the San Fernando Valley region.

The Los Angeles Fire Department posted on its Facebook Page that firefighters and media gathered at Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks on January 17, 2024 to remember the Northridge Earthquake, demonstrate the new tools and techniques the LAFD are using 30 years after (at “Disaster City” Urban Search and Rescue training area behind the fire station), and update residents to increase their preparedness before the next “Big One.”

At 4:31 a.m., on January 17, 1994, Los Angeles suffered a 6.7 Magnitude earthquake, centered in Northridge. The quake caused significant damage and losses were seen throughout Southern California, with fallen bridges, fires, flooding, buildings collapsed, and highways and more.

“First Responders worked to dig the city out of the rubble, but it wasn’t just us…. Residents, neighbors, and businesses all came together to show the resilience of Los Angeles,” said the LAFD.

The Fire Department is aiming to ensure Los Angelenos are prepared for the next big earthquake when it happens. Individuals are being asked to be proactive as it unknown when the next big earthquake may strike.

People are expected to know the risks and create a plan for their family or household which includes an emergency kit and to learn how to stay informed during an emergency situation.

“Your #LAFD also has programs and resources to help, and offers free classes to join our Community Emergency Response Team (#CERT) to help our communities prepare for and respond to the next crisis. Visit LAFD.org for more information,” the LAFD stated in the post.

By Trevor