"Let me tell you what short-term is. I think ‘short-term’ is about a year and a half, and I say that because it takes a while to build housing. Unfortunately, the policy de facto had been, you stay on the street while we build something. I think that is completely unacceptable. So, what is the solution? Just putting somebody in a house is not enough. There needs to be healthcare along with other social services and support. Then they need to go into permanent housing." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, CNN's Homelessness in America Series (March 1, 2024)
Date of Event: Thursday, February 13th 2025
Time of Event: 9:30 AM — 1:00 PM PST
Place of Event: Webinar
Darick Blackshere, Community Relations, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)
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Kitty Davis-Walker, Vice President Public Relations, Union Rescue Mission
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Fred Dodson, Jr., Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, DreamKey Partners
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Sarah Dunning, Program Analyst, Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman (South Carolina)
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The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) conducts an annual point-in-time Homeless Count to assess the state of homelessness in the region. The 2024 Count, conducted from January 23-25, revealed a slight decrease in the homeless population: 0.27% in LA County (75,312 people) and 2.2% in the City of LA (45,252 people). This census provides crucial data on the location and trends of homeless populations, informing local policies and funding decisions.
The 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count has been postponed due to the ongoing wildfire crisis in Los Angeles County. LAHSA announced that the count, which was scheduled for January 2025, will be delayed by at least 30 days. This postponement has been approved by HUD to ensure both participant safety and data accuracy.
The January 2025 firestorms in Los Angeles, particularly devastating the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Pasadena areas, will significantly compound Southern California's housing affordability crisis. With over 9,000 structures destroyed, including two affordable housing complexes under construction, the sudden displacement of thousands of residents will create unprecedented pressure on an already strained rental market. Housing analysts project rent increases of 8-10% in the immediate aftermath, with continued pressure of 4-6% through the year. The destruction of rental properties and affordable housing developments, combined with construction delays, labor shortages, and escalating insurance costs, will severely impact low and middle-income residents. This crisis particularly affects vulnerable populations, as rental housing typically rebuilds more slowly than single-family homes, and there's less federal aid available for renters. The compounded effect of these fires on development costs, insurance premiums, and construction timelines will likely derail Los Angeles' goal of constructing nearly half a million new housing units by 2029, further exacerbating the affordable housing shortage in Southern California.
Addressing homelessness requires a multifaceted approach. While short-term solutions like eviction relief are crucial, long-term strategies must tackle discriminatory zoning laws, increase affordable housing construction, and overcome political challenges such as NIMBYism. Policymakers need to consider creative solutions to correct market imbalances and ensure equitable access to housing.
Collaboration across sectors is essential for developing comprehensive solutions. Stakeholders from various fields, including case managers, non-profit leaders, community organizers, and developers, must work together to share knowledge, identify emerging challenges, and implement effective strategies. This collaborative approach can lead to more targeted and impactful interventions, addressing the unique needs of different populations experiencing homelessness.
As the homeless crisis continues to evolve, it's crucial to remain adaptable and open to new ideas. By fostering cooperation between different sectors and learning from experts in the field, communities can develop innovative approaches to protect and support those experiencing homelessness, ultimately working towards long-term solutions to this pressing social issue.
This symposium brings together diverse stakeholders to address homelessness, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. Participants will explore innovative solutions, discuss emerging challenges, and gain deeper insights into the issue. By facilitating cross-sector dialogue and learning from field experts, attendees can develop new strategies to protect the unsheltered. These valuable lessons and best practices can then be applied at local, state, and national levels, enhancing efforts to combat homelessness in various communities.
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