Media Invited to Santa Monica’s Homeless Count Tomorrow, February 23; Volunteers Still Needed
February 23, 2022 8:25 AM
The City of Santa Monica will conduct its annual street-by-street count of people experiencing homeless tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The City remains in critical need of pre-formed volunteer teams of 3 – 4. If you have a pre-formed team, there is still time to volunteer, register here and learn more about requirements.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will look different. Volunteer teams will be deployed fully from their cars and need to pre-register their team of 3-4 individuals. Teams will be directed to a drive-through check-in where all team members will be asked for vaccine verification and completed waivers before being assigned to a Count area and receive Count materials.
The media is invited to cover Santa Monica’s Homeless Count and to interview volunteers and City representatives. Advance notice is requested given the unique format of this year’s event.
WHEN: Wednesday,
February 23, 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. The count is conducted rain or shine.
WHERE: Beach Lot 4 South, 2030 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405
WHO: Hundreds of passionate community volunteers, City staff, local elected officials, and many other supporting organizations.
WHAT: Santa Monica joins the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and communities across the county in the late-night count. Santa Monica’s count is made possible with the support of 300 volunteers. This annual count is a vital tool in establishing annual homeless priorities. Each year, the City of Santa Monica looks at these numbers as an indicator of how Santa Monica’s local strategies, in collaboration with LA County regional strategies, are working.
WHY: Count results help the City:
- Comply with HU and local stakeholder requirements;
- Understand trends among the City’s homeless population;
- Adapt local homeless service programs; and
- Raise public awareness about the issue of homelessness.
To learn more about the City’s efforts to address homelessness, visit santamonica.gov/topic-explainers/homelessness.
To register, please visit www.santamonica.gov/santa-monica-homeless-count.
Members of the media should email constance.farrell@santamonica.gov or call 424-280-0008 to cover Santa Monica’s Homeless Count.
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov
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