The Great Los Angeles Homeless Headcount: Counting Our Blessings (or Lack Thereof)
Ah, Los Angeles. The land of dreams, movie stars, and... a whole lotta folks living on the streets. But hey, at least we know how many, right? Enter the annual Los Angeles Homeless Count, a thrilling event almost as suspenseful as the Oscars (almost).
So, how many Angelenos went full-on nomad in 2023?
Drumroll please... 75,518! That's right, folks, enough people to fill a stadium... several stadiums, actually. You could say homelessness has gone totally viral.
But wait, there's more! The City of Los Angeles itself clocked in at a cool 46,260, which is basically the entire population of Encino chilling on Venice Beach instead.
Now, before you get all Debbie Downer, let's look at the bright side (cue sarcastic music):
- At least we're counting! How can you fix a problem if you don't know how big it is? Although, maybe some folks would argue we're better off not knowing...
- This year's increase was only 9% for the county, which is practically a flatline compared to previous years. So, yay... progress?
- Hey, on the positive side, our homeless population is more health-conscious than ever. They're getting those daily steps in, rain or shine!
Alright, alright, I get it. Homelessness is a serious issue. But hey, a little humor can't hurt, right? Seriously though, the situation in LA is tough. Rents are higher than a kite on a hurricane, and affordable housing is about as common as a unicorn sighting.
What can we do?
- Well, for starters, we can stop congratulating ourselves on minor improvements in the homeless count. Let's shoot for a year with a decrease, shall we?
- Support organizations that are actually making a difference. Donate your time or your money, because throwing thoughts and prayers isn't going to cut it.
- Maybe next year, the LA Homeless Count will be a celebration of how many people we helped off the streets, not a reminder of how many are still struggling. Now that would be a story worth writing home about (even if everyone actually has a home to write from).
