MAYOR GARCETTI ON RELEASE OF LAHSA HOMELESS COUNT FIGURES

Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — “The results of LAHSA’s Homeless Count show that when we target our resources to help specific populations — such as homeless families and veterans — we get results and save lives. As a City, we housed nearly 10,000 people in 2015 alone, including 2,668 veterans and 2,846 chronically homeless people — more than any other city in the country. These figures prove that our strategic efforts are working.

Despite our progress, Los Angeles is facing a historic housing shortage, a staggering mental health crisis, and veterans are becoming homeless every day. As a City, we have launched efforts to tackle these issues — securing record federal investments in supportive services for veteran families, producing a comprehensive homelessness strategy report, and expanding a robust winter shelter program. This year, we are doubling down on our work.

I’ve called for a record $138 million in the City’s budget to support homeless services, build affordable housing, and work with our County partners to confront our mental health crisis. In the short term, this investment will help double our LAHSA outreach teams, add needed storage facilities, grow access to restrooms and showers, and expand our Coordinated Entry System to get more people connected to services and off the street for good. We are leveraging every possible City resource to help fund our efforts. If approved, a linkage fee on development will finally provide a steady source of revenue to pay for critical permanent supportive and affordable housing.

We need all hands on deck to tackle this crisis. Together with LAHSA, the County, and our nonprofit partners, we will not rest until every Angeleno has a safe place to sleep at night, and the opportunity to build a productive life.” — Mayor Eric Garcetti