The City of Rosemead is reaching out to compassionate volunteers in the community to participate in the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count for 2013.
The citywide count of homeless people will take place in partnership with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority – a biennial project required by the federal government.
Rosemead’s 2013 Homeless Count is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, when teams of 2-to-3 people will help Rosemead survey its streets and account for all homeless individuals in the city.
Marcy Marquez, Rosemead’s Housing Project Coordinator, said the biennial count helps the homeless by informing local governments and agencies what local services are needed.
“It’s very important to make sure that we’re counting everyone so that we are able to assist the public,” said Marquez, adding that the homeless count, performed every other year, counted approximately 65 to 100 individuals in Rosemead for 2011, the city’s first participating year.
Rosemead works with local community organizations to provide certain social services to homeless individuals, such as People For People, which offers food to needy residents, and Family Promise, which provides homeless families with shelter and food, while helping them to find work and housing.
“Some people come into City Hall, and we do our best to try to get with other agencies, like the San Gabriel Valley Consortium, to help them,” Marquez said.
Located in West Covina, the San Gabriel Valley Consortium on Homelessness, at www.sgvconsortium.org, utilizes regional partnerships to provide housing and homeless services throughout the valley’s communities.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the lead agency in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, coordinates and manages over $70 million a year in federal, state, and local funds for programs that provide shelter, housing and services to homeless persons in Los Angeles City and County.
Partner agencies provide a continuum of programs ranging from outreach, access centers, emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional and permanent housing, and prevention along with the necessary supportive services designed to provide the tools and skills required to attain a stable housing environment.
From previous homeless counts, the authority has determined that there are about 51,000 homeless individuals throughout Los Angeles County, including veterans, families, youth and those with mental health conditions, according to LAHSA officials.
“Just a few hours of your time can help your community better target services and housing assistance that ultimately get people experiencing homeless into safe and stable housing,” according to a statement.
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is the nation’s largest count of homeless individuals and families, covering approximately 4,000 square miles. The 2011 Homeless Count, which took place Jan. 25-27, 2011, included the participation and support of 4,000 volunteers throughout Los Angeles County.
More information on LAHSA can be found at http://www.lahsa.org. To learn more about volunteering through LAHSA, visit www.theycountwillyou.org or call (213) 225-8411.
Rosemead volunteers for the homeless count on Jan. 29 will deploy from the Rosemead Garvey Community Center both on foot and in cars. Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and shoes, while dressing for the outdoors in whatever weather conditions. According to city officials, the count will take place regardless of the weather.
Requirements to participate include attention to detail, the ability to walk approximately one mile during the nighttime hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., and compassion to make a difference in your community.
To receive more information for volunteering, or to RSVP, please visit the city’s website at www.cityofrosemead.org to download and return the registration form. The public may also contact Housing Project Coordinator Marcy Marquez at (626) 569-2119 or by e-mail at [email protected].
