The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has addressed recent commentary from RAND scientist Louis Abramson regarding the accuracy of the upcoming 2025 Homeless Count. In his piece titled “LAHSA’s Homeless Count Undercounts the Most Vulnerable,” published on October 21, Abramson raised critical points about how the count may impact vulnerable populations. LAHSA’s response emphasizes the importance of contextualizing the count within a broader framework of data collection and analysis.
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, coordinated by LAHSA as part of Los Angeles County’s Continuum of Care, covers over 3,000 census tracts. This methodology has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), ensuring consistency across national homeless counts. Such consistency is essential for accurately tracking changes in homelessness over time.
Both LAHSA and RAND’s findings indicate a significant trend: homelessness in Los Angeles County is declining. While the Homeless Count provides valuable standardized data, it is not the sole instrument for understanding the complexities of homelessness. LAHSA highlights that the most critical information for planning services comes from year-round data collection.
The agency’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) offers real-time insights into individuals’ specific circumstances and service needs. This continuous data collection enables LAHSA to adjust service delivery effectively, even with limited funding resources. The year-round data is accessible to funders, aiding in informed funding decisions.
LAHSA welcomes constructive criticism and is eager to collaborate with RAND. The agency has extended an invitation for RAND’s experts to participate in future counts, similar to invitations extended to other organizations. Additionally, LAHSA plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a technical partner for the 2027-2029 counts, further emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing homelessness.
In conclusion, the dialogue between LAHSA and RAND highlights the ongoing efforts to understand and address homelessness in Los Angeles County. The agency remains committed to utilizing comprehensive data to enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for those in need.
