The Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) conducted a point-in-time homeless count last month showing that the total number of unhoused people in the city is about the same as two years ago, though less are living in large vehicles like vans, SUVs, campers or RVs.
The SHPD counted a total of 34 unhoused persons on Feb. 23 as part of the LA County Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) point-in-time count, compared to 35 in 2020. LAHSA canceled its 2021 homeless count due to COVID-19 health considerations.
Community Development Director Colleen Doan told the Signal Hill City Council on Tuesday, March 22, that SHPD drove through all Signal Hill streets and alleys to count individuals experiencing homelessness and any vehicles, tents and makeshift shelters occupied by unhoused people.
She said SHPD didn’t count people twice or the number of people who might be living in a vehicle or tent, leaving open the possibility that the actual number of individuals might be higher if more than one were living in a vehicle or other shelter.
“If they see an individual, they count an individual,” Doan said. “If they see a tent, they count a tent and they don’t additionally count individuals.”
Though the total number of unhoused individuals or their vehicles or shelters remained roughly the same over two years, Doan pointed out that the number of vans and SUVs counted fell from 10 in 2020 to two in 2022 and the number of campers or RVs fell from eight in 2020 to four in 2022.
However, SHPD counted four cars sheltering unhoused people compared to none in 2020. SHPD’s count did not find any unhoused families or minors less than 18 years old living in Signal Hill, either in 2020 or in 2022.
Countywide, LAHSA reported 66,436 people in 2020 “living on the street in tents, makeshift dwellings and vehicles,” a number 12.7% higher than in 2019.
LAHSA conducted the 2022 countywide count on Feb. 22, 23 and 24 with the help of volunteers. It will provide official count statistics sometime in the summer, Doan said.
“The main purpose of the point-in-time homeless count event is to raise awareness about the state of homelessness in LA County, which in turn helps channel funding and much-needed resources,” she said.
