The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is holding the 2020 annual Homeless Count over three days, January 21 to January 23. The count for LA County’s Service Planning Area 6 (South Los Angeles plus Compton, Lynwood, and Paramount) will be on the third day: Thursday, January 23.

This graphic guide was produced by Eastern Kentucky University's emergency management program. It contains many good suggestions for homeless service agencies and individuals for providing aid to homeless persons during a natural disaster. Their statistics are a little dated, from the 2017 homeless count, and some of the organizations they suggest contacting do not have local Los Angeles chapters, but the general advice is useful.

More than 200 people jammed the courtyard for the opening of the new A Bridge Home Shelter in Watts November 13. Mayor Eric Garcetti addressed the crowd, along with Joe Buscaino, LA City Councilman for the area, in CD 15, and other dignitaries. The Mayor said this shelter, at 2316 E. Imperial Highway, is the ninth to be completed out of a planned 26. Each of the city’s 15 council districts is ordered to build at least one of these new generation, more humane, bridge housing shelters.

A November chart on the Mayor’s website (copy below) lists 8 of the new shelters completed of 25 pledged. Mayor Garcetti reported that there are actually 9 of 26 finished.

Research on Homeless People With Pets

While we often think that homeless people seldom have pets because of not having a real home to provide for their pets, this is typically not the case. In fact, many people become homeless because they would prefer to be homeless with their pet than in a home without them.

Providing their pet with love and care often gives them a feeling of normalcy that they wouldn’t otherwise have under those circumstances. As long as the person is able to keep their pet well-fed, cared for, groomed and healthy, there is no reason why the two shouldn’t be allowed to stay together.

Many homeless state that their pet took care of them as much as they took care of the pet. Some even go so far as to say that their pets gave them a reason for living. These are the very reasons why it’s so important to provide the large number of homeless people every opportunity possible to keep their pets with them or provide them with temporary shelter.

Links to Resources for Homeless People with Pets from 365 Pet Insurance

Following is the September 2019 announcement sheet from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. To format it for this website we have used photos of the text that do not contain the original links for additional information.

Here is a link to a downloadable PDF of the announcement sheet that does contain all the additional links.

INSIDE THIS EDITION:
• Problem-Solving Training Campaign • System Metrics for the Month of August • Please Comment and Help Oppose HUD’s Efforts to Roll Back Fair Housing Regulations • Results of the State Legislative Session • Update on Access Centers Access Centers and Access Points • The Weekend to End Homelessness

LAHSA has been working with Inner City Law Center on the 2nd annual Weekend to End Homelessness. The Weekend to End Homelessness is a weekend-long series of community engagement events throughout LA County designed to bring people together that are interested in ending the homelessness crisis to educate, inspire and get them connected with people and organizations already doing great work. Each of the 8 County-Wide Service Planning Areas has a team of local leaders working together from every level of government, along with a variety of direct service providers, and individuals representing a diverse pool of affinity groups designing an experience unique to the needs of their respective communities. The event will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the weekend of October 4, 5, 6.