January 22, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Homeless Action: Committees Present Their Findings- Will Action Follow?

By Jennifer Eden

As the hum of community voices escalated at Wednesday night’s March 7 Homelessness Steering Committee meeting held at Roosevelt Elementary on Montana, the message from Santa Monica City Staff on homelessness was clear: a coordinated approach is in place, resident help is needed and $1.4 million-worth of resources have been mobilized.

But what does that mean exactly? A slew of committees presented their opinions Wednesday night; there are brochures, websites and a lot of chat, but is anyone acting on their findings/recommendations?

Figures released from the City of Santa Monica Tuesday, March 6, show a 4 percent year-on-year increase in Santa Monica’s homeless population based on the annual Homeless Count held Jan. 24. The count revealed a total 957 homeless people in Santa Monica, up from last year’s 921.

Within the 957, the number of people sleeping out, as opposed to finding shelter, increased from 92 to 104. There were fewer short-term homeless counted, down from 29 percent to 27 percent this year. Forty-four percent came from greater Los Angeles; 32 percent from interstate.

Santa Monica City is tackling the situation from all angles, City staff said, with new appointments, resources, vehicles and data collection systems in place.

“There will be a dozen new outreach workers in Santa Monica at the same time as 600 workers hit the streets across the county,” explained the City’s newly-appointed Senior Advisor on Homelessness Alisa Orduna. “We are going to get to know our population, what they need, and connect them to services with the force multipliers of the Library, Police and Fire departments doing the same work to connect people to assistance in collaboration faith-based organizations, businesses and everyone who wants to get involved.”

Santa Monica Fire Department recently rolled out a new Low Acuity Unity from Fire Station 2 that will be dedicated to low acuity calls for service, many of which involve homeless patients.

All Santa Monica Police Department officers have received homeless-specific training, and their Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) team given broad scope and extra resources to focus on finding solutions to Santa Monica’s long-term homeless residents. Housing programs to keep seniors in place are also being trialed, and Library services have been bolstered.

The bulk of the $1.4 million is going toward 12 outreach workers who will form part of L.A. County’s C3 teams, in “lite” versions – attempting to reach more people in the City.

Then there’s PR. $150,000 is being paid to GOOD Worldwide. They have created kits and information.

And while attendees of the Steering Committee meeting were encouraged to be kind to our homeless population, the leftover Mendocino Farm sandwiches from the evening were taken back to SMPD headquarters for staff, rather than being distributed among our most vulnerable.

Santa Monica Fire Department’s new Low Acuity Unit. Captain/Paramedic Paul Bellante (left). Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Frebe (right).
Photo: Santa Monica Fire Department
Related Posts

Deadlines Extended for Personal and Business Taxes for Wildfire-Affected Residents of LA County, City

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Mayor Bass announces New Deadline, State and Federal Extensions Even Longer Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the deadline...

Free Bike Safety Workshop and Pizza Party Rolls Into Culver City on January 26

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Learn Bike Safety Basics, Enjoy a Group Ride, and Celebrate With Pizza Culver City residents are invited to join Walk...

Palisades Fire Containment Reaches 63% as Repopulation Continues in Fire Zones

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Select Areas Now Open to Residents Only as Evacuation Orders Are Eased The Palisades Fire has reached 23,713 acres with...

Widow of Fallen Culver City Police Department Officer Loses Home in Palisades Fire

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Melody Massey, Who Lost Her Husband in the Line of Duty, Faces New Hardship The Culver City Police Department has...

Governor Newsom Expands Tenant Protections for Firestorm Survivors

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Eviction Safeguards Offered for Tenants Sheltering Displaced Individuals Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order extending eviction protections to...

Crypto ‘Godfather’ and LASD Deputy Admit to Civil Rights Abuses in Federal Case

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

The Duo Face Decades in Prison for Conspiracy, Extortion, and Tax Fraud A cryptocurrency entrepreneur and a Los Angeles County...

Two Arrested By LASD for Impersonating Firefighters in Palisades Fire Zone

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Suspects Detained After Attempting to Access Evacuation Areas Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators announced the arrest of...

West Hollywood Art Collector Loses Iconic Warhol and Haring Pieces in Pacific Palisades Fire

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Fire Destroys Over 200 Artworks Worth Millions, like Warhol’s ‘Myths’ and Haring’s ‘Totem’ West Hollywood art collector Ron Rivlin has...

Windblown Dust and Ash Advisory Issued for Los Angeles County Amid Strong Santa Ana Windstorm

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Public Health Warns of Poor Air Quality, Health Risks as Winds Stir Pollutants From Burn Scars The Los Angeles County...

Red Flag Warning: Santa Ana Winds and Extreme Fire Danger Again Predicted This Week

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Winds Up to 100 MPH Expected; Residents Urged to Prepare for Critical Fire Weather  The National Weather Service has issued...

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Launches with $12M to Support Artists Impacted by Wildfires

January 17, 2025

January 17, 2025

Getty Trust, Philanthropists Unite to Aid Artists, Arts Workers, Devastated by Los Angeles Fires. A coalition of arts organizations and...

LADWP Refutes Fire Hydrant Misinformation During Palisades Fire’s Unprecedented Demand for Water

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Utility Addresses Online Claims, Confirms Water Systems Remained Operational The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)  is seeking...

Culver City Postpones Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration To Next Month

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Event Will Honor Dr. King’s Legacy With Live Entertainment and Exhibits After a January postponement, the Dr. Martin Luther King...

Santa Monica Police Seek Inglewood-Based Suspect in Fatal Shooting

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Fabian Mendez, Considered Armed and Dangerous, Remains at Large The Santa Monica Police Department has an update on the case...

LA Restaurants Step Up: Feeding First Responders, Evacuees, and Communities in Need

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

From Free Meals To Fundraising Campaigns, Local Eateries Are Supporting Wildfire Relief  Many restaurants all over the city are doing...