Thomas on December 06, 2006, at 08:57AM – #1

This is pretty amazing, Eric. (Though I wish the map extended into the financial district, where I work.) Incredible work and an incredible resource. Kudos to you and your company.

e; on December 06, 2006, at 10:28AM – #2

Thomas: Click on the Maps tab and check out the full PDF maps. They include all of Central Division, which goes west to the 110.

David Kennedy on December 07, 2006, at 09:32AM – #3

This is a welcome start to addressing the situation with the 'homeless' in downtown. One thing which I've found frustrating over the years is lack of decent empirical data documenting the situation. Because of this, the discussion quickly descends into a shouting match over competing narratives (e.g. homeless as sainted victims vs. homeless as lawless vagrants). My frustration is compounded by the seemingly incompetence of the 'professionals' who make and execute policy. I think the results speak for themselves. I also think the unwillingness to acknowledge failure speaks volumes.

So I think this is welcome news because it begins bringing some empirical data to the discussion. That said, I think it is only a good beginning. I'd make some other suggestions.

1) Photos of the blocks to supplement the data points would put a human face to an abstraction. When the data is collected, photos should be taken. They would also document the nature of the encampments. The truth of people camped on the street has a power to tell the story in another compelling way.

2) Start publishing the nightly check-in data for the various shelters. A contention I often hear is there is insufficient bed space to accomodate all the homeless. I have no idea if this is true. Let the data tell the story. By the by, I don't want summaries. I'd want to see the actual documents which I presume the shelters generate everytime someone checks in for the evening. Eventually, the picture of what is going on downtown would become clearer. Is there a deficit of bed space or is there a problem getting people to use it?

3) Start gathering demographic data of who these people are. I don't need to know their name. But, information about their personal history, criminal background, medical problems, time on the street, where they've been, etc. When I read one of the parties to the ACLU's legal action to allow street camping has lived on the streets of L.A. for 20 years, I don't think this is someone down on their luck. I think this is someone who has adapted life on the street by choice. We need to better understand who these people are to better develop public policies to correct the clear failings of the present situation.

These suggestions are only a start. I'm sure there are other ways in which useful and meaningful data documenting this situation can be gathering and organized to develop thoughtful and effective public policy. Also, publishing this kind of data would begin to bring some accountability to the situation. Ideally, gathering and publishing this kind of data will spur some creative thinking about the 'homeless' situation in downtown. The failure of the present policies is as much a failure of imagination more than anything. I always wonder, is this truly the best that can be done?

Perhaps, I'm mis-informed. Perhaps, there is plenty of this data readily available. If that is the case, it should definitely be gathered and included to compliment the data this project is capturing.

Alex Brideau III on December 10, 2006, at 02:40AM – #4

I see the intersections of 6th & Main and 6th and Los Angeles from my apartment. Interestingly, while the map indicates approximately 20 encampments at 6th & Main and none at 6th & Los Angeles, I observe it to be the opposite. In fact, I can't recall seeing anyone camped out at 6th & Main, while 6th & Los Angeles is packed nightly. While I know this is not an exact science, do you think this is just a two-intersection data error or is the overlay off by one block mapwide? Or perhaps the data provided to you was off? Just wondering. Either way, great job! (I agree with DK that shelter bed overlay might be very interesting to see.)

David Kennedy on December 11, 2006, at 08:32AM – #5

One question I have is why is the Financial District not included? What establishes the western edge of the data?

In the past couple of months, I've done a lot of walks in the early evening with my twins in the stroller who don't want to sleep. I've noticed a distinct surge in people sleeping in the Financial District and the Jewelry District. Before, this was just once in a blue moon that you'd find someone sleeping in these parts. Last night I saw more than a dozen in places I'd never seen before.

As it stands now, the count doesn't appear to capture these people.