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Housing Administrator Tevis Barnes instructs volunteers
Every other year about this time, Culver City joins the rest of Los Angeles County in tabulating the numbers of homeless people in its community. The Homeless Count, as the exercise colorlessly is known, is conducted the old-fashioned way. Scorning the temptation to computerize the search, real live volunteers fan across Culver City and other towns. They count the people known as the unhoused with the naked eye. Tevis Barnes, City Hall’s Housing Administrator, has provided fresh insights.
What is the significance of doing the Homeless Count?
This provides the city with knowledge regarding the size, location and general demographics of the homeless population. It helps us to shape local services and funding.
How is it done? Do volunteers roam the city and count on street corners, for example?
Yes. Volunteers (last week) literally walked the city block by block (by Census tract). They counted homeless persons they witnessed from the streets. They also counted RVs, campers and cars that may have homeless persons residing inside.
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City Councilman Jim Clarke, second from right, with volunteers
How many homeless persons were found in Culver City?
This year there are 22. At the last count two years ago, there were 19.
What does it mean to Culver City that the numbers are slightly higher?
It means the city will need to continue to focus its efforts to reach out to the homeless – and to support homeless services and programs to eventually reduce the number.
How does any of this relate to the Winter Shelter being closed?
There is no relationship, but it does mean that those 22 homeless counted no longer have access to the shelter program in our city.
It sounds as if the number of homeless has been consistent.
When the Homeless Count started in 2009, the number was 21 individuals, followed by the 19 and 22 just mentioned. The Homeless Count is conducted every two years.
Ms. Barnes may be contacted at tevis.barnes@culvercity.org
