Homeless Count Rise a Reminder that Progress is Not Always Steady

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, April 04, 2007, at 08:03AM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Times took a ride along yesterday as Central division did the first of its April homeless counts. The count found a little over a 25% increase in homeless population.

But the results of an LAPD census conducted early Tuesday morning threw cold water on the celebration and served as a reminder of how intractable the homeless problem in downtown remains despite all the progress.

The census showed the first major increase in months in homeless people camping, to 921.

As always you can see the population change on Cartifact’s Downtown Homeless Map.

It would seem to be a little naive to believe that the numbers were always going to trend downward. The problem is far too complex for that. As the article notes, 2000 beds in winter shelters closed March 15th, leaving some number of individuals to find their way back to Downtown.

It’s also true that progress on Skid Row is not simply a factor of the numbers. The major focus of LAPD’s efforts have been to wipe out the drug market. An increase in population doesn’t necessarily say anything about how that fight is going. If someone’s celebration was doused by this uptick they need to take a closer look at what it is they’re cheering for.

More after the jump…

Many people have asked me about the methodology of the counts, and whether I believe them to be accurate. The piece includes two quotes on that subject that I simply have to address here.

Critics have long questioned the methodology of the LAPD’s count.

Jennifer Wolch, a USC professor of geography who has studied homelessness, said it is difficult for anyone to count the homeless — but even harder with uniformed police officers, who as law enforcement officials may engender fear or suspicion. “These counts, no matter who takes them, are typically flawed,” Wolch said. There are “a lot of places for people to evaporate.”

I’ll accept that some number of homeless people find crazy little nooks to sleep in that LAPD might not find. I can’t buy the idea, though, that people siting on the sidewalk think to themselves “Hmm, it’s the first of the month. I better go find a place to hide so the officer doesn’t wake me to count me tonight.”

So while it’s almost certainly true that the count doesn’t find every single individual, I seriously doubt that the percentage of those sleeping outside but not found has risen.

This one’s my favorite, though:

Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, said she was “very surprised to hear the population is up in skid row overnight.”

… Ripston also wondered what effect a reporter’s presence on the count may have had. “They may have been more accurate because you were … along,” she said.

Sure… A reporter rides along with one of the seven teams of officers counting Downtown and causes everyone to open their eyes and find a couple hundred people they had previously missed. I can’t see myself buying that one either.

After Year of Stability, Numbers Up in Skid Row
September 04, 2008

Comments

Whitman Lam writes:

It is like driving flies away from a honey baked ham.

As soon as the weather turns warmer and the police relax on enforcement, homeless people will return in droves.

There are too many shelters, clinics, SRO hotels, and pocket change to attract them to downtown.

# on Apr.04.2007 AT 02:40 PM

Kanner writes:

Someone should send the homeless over to Ramona Ripston’s house, or at least to her neighborhood. She’ll love it!

# on Apr.04.2007 AT 06:29 PM

Jerko writes:

Damn homeless people… why can’t they just get a job!!?

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 12:02 AM

Dennis writes:

I think the homeless count this year had more to do with the changing methodology that was instituted this time around. If you actually have been down to Skid Row in recent months there is a pretty sizable downturn in homeless people now.

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 12:23 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Dennis: The methodology has been the same since counts started in the middle of last year. Even at 921 the count’s way down from the highs last year, but we need to be focused on the real life progress, not just the raw numbers.

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 07:42 AM

Robert writes:

Why does the city close the shelters during certain months? I guess I don’t understand the dynamics. Do these “closed” shelters serve another purpose? It seems that if they are available, the city should spend the extra money. In the long run, keeping homeless off the streets pays dividends in other ways to the City of Los Angeles.

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 07:47 AM

amie writes:

I completely agree with the sentiment of Robert’s comment. Keep the shelters open. If we as a society are not allowed to force people into treatment, hospitals, or work programs, then we should at least be able to force people off the streets–just shouldn’t be allowed–period. It’s not good for the people living on the street, not good for the businesses around the area, and certainly not fair to those living and working downtown.

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 08:59 AM

Scott Mercer writes:

More shelters. Start opening them now. Where are you Mayor Tony?

On an completely unrelated note, the Rite Aid at Broadway and Fifth is supposed to be opening tomorrow. I got my circular in the mail. See you there.

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 12:41 PM

dan writes:

robert, amie and scott have the right idea, the real issue is helping the homeless off the street. the thought process of the aclu on this issue beyond me. who do they imagine they are helping by protecting the right of the most needy to stay in the most unhealthy environment possible? on the other hand the city and county NEED to step up and provide shelters all over. to say we can’t afford it is a joke, by not paying for forward thinking services now, we pay over and over to ignore the problem. with the enormous and comparatively wealthy population of LA there is no reason our leaders shouldn’t be able to find the political will to deal with this.

o.k. i’ll get down from the soap box now…

# on Apr.05.2007 AT 04:30 PM

amie writes:

I am so completely disgusted by the stance ACLU takes on the homeless. They are cruel people–using the weakest of society to promote ideology is about as close to evil as at gets. When organizations start to fight for ideas at the cost of human dignity they become fascist.

# on Apr.06.2007 AT 08:57 AM

Whitman Lam writes:

The ACLU fights for the right to sleep on the sidewalk, at the expense of everyone, including the homeless.

What’s next ? The right to urinate and defecate in public ? The right to harass people for loose change ? The right to sleep on railroad tracks ?

# on Apr.06.2007 AT 11:27 AM

David Kennedy writes:

Easy, amie.

Calling the ACLU fascists because you disagree with them isn’t helpful. You’re right, and as others (including me) have argued, their support for street encampments is very misguided. But, the organization has a long and honorable history. They’ve simply made a serious error here.

Also, the characterization is inaccurate. I’ll skip the details since I suspect most readers aren’t interested.

# on Apr.06.2007 AT 12:13 PM

amie writes:

Ok David, you are right. And certainly the ACLU’s actions throughout the civil rights movement where heroic to say the least. But I am VERY concerned about the stance that the ACLU has taken on several issues over the past few years, particularly with the homeless. And I do believe that organizations become dangerous when they start fighting for ideology over human beings.

# on Apr.06.2007 AT 04:58 PM