Second in a series

Re “Homeless in Culver City Roars Past 200”

Since Los Angeles County and Culver City use different methods for tabulating the homeless population of Culver City, one indisputable conclusion is the number is rising – if not soaring.

The County counts 227 in Culver City, a record.

Housing Administrator Tevis Barnes was explaining why City Hall’s count differs.

Take a car or van occupied by homeless persons.

Ms. Barnes’s volunteers espy a vehicle and mark down a number since they are not allowed to enter.

“We are not allowed to engage (enter) for reasons of safety and privacy as well,” Ms. Barnes said. “So we have to make assumptions more than one person is inside.”

However, when volunteers/inspectors from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, LAHSA, survey vehicles, they use a more complex, obscure formula.
“I understand why they do that, for the sake of accuracy,” Ms. Barnes said.

Now for City Hall’s homeless count:

• 46 individuals, nearly double last year’s count of 26.

“It is a worrisome sign,” said Ms. Barnes, “and it also might reflect the fact we went out later this year.

“We were told that a lot of the homeless folks, particularly those in cars and vans, they wait for everybody to leave.”

Homeless people are embarrassed. They do not want to be noticed.

“Usually they stay in business areas,” Ms. Barnes said. “They wait for businesses to close, especially over by Fox Hills. They don’t want to be seen.

“They hide for a variety of reasons. One is for shame.  Believe it or not, some of these people actually have jobs and are living in their cars.

“They hide for safety, too.”

(To be continued)