It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer for the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in Santa Monica, which will be on Wednesday, January 24, from 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. Register here or at theywillcountyou.org/santa_monica.
The Santa Monica count, which will depart from St. Monica’s Catholic Church on 725 California Ave., can accommodate 100 volunteers. Ninety three Santa Monicans have registered as of the time of publication, with another 7 slots remaining. You can sign up as a team or on your own.
The annual Homeless Count is an important tool that helps policymakers better understand and address homelessness across LA County. It provides valuable data that guides the deployment of resources, identifies trends, and informs strategies to combat homelessness effectively.
First time volunteer? Here’s what to expect
- Training – Everyone will get trained on how to perform the count during volunteer orientation at St. Monica’s.
- Assignment to a Team – Everyone will be split into teams of 3 to 4 people to count a specific census tract together. You won’t be alone!
- Dress Warmly and Wear Walking Shoes.
- It will be a late night. That said, this year’s count will conclude at around midnight, several hours earlier than in 2023 (11 p.m. to 3 a.m.)
- Community. In these divisive times it is gratifying to be matched with other people in our community who care deeply about our unhoused neighbors. We put aside our opinions, and stay focused on the task at hand. A broad range of volunteers from civic and business life to Santa Monica residents will come together annually to support the count. You should be among them.
During the 2023 Homeless Count held in January, results showed that 926 people experiencing homelessness were counted in Santa Monica, an overall increase of 15 percent from the 807 individuals counted during the City’s 2022 Homeless Count.
Compared to last year’s results, 73 more individuals were counted on the street and in vehicles, and 46 more individuals were counted in the Shelter and Institutional count, which consists of emergency motels, shelters, hospitals and the Santa Monica jail.
To learn more about Santa Monica’s plan for addressing homelessness, click here.
