West Covina’s homeless population decreased significantly in 2019, according to preliminary data released after business hours Friday by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
In a point-in-time count conducted one night in January, volunteers counted a total of 139 homeless people in West Covina. That’s a 44% decrease compared to the 249 people counted last year.
Of those 139, 74 were found on the street, 21 were in makeshift shelters, 22 were in RVs or campers, 10 were in vans and 12 were in cars.
For more than a year, residents have been clamoring for the city and local law enforcement to take more action to address homelessness in West Covina. Since then, the city has initiated several steps to address residents’ concerns, including partnering with Union Station Homeless Servicesfor case management services.
The city credited the decrease to the city’s police department and public services maintenance staff, who have worked with nonprofit organizations, residents, LAHSA and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and mental health departments, according to a statement.
“We know we have made progress, but our work is not done until the number of homeless in our community is reduced to zero,” Mayor Lloyd Johnson said in the statement. “We will continue to advocate for the city’s share of Measure H funding and continue to work collaboratively with our neighboring cities and organizations to balance the needs of our homeless neighbors and public safety for West Covina.”
West Covina is one of five cities in the region set to receive Measure H funding, which comes from a .25% hike to the sales tax, to hire case managers who will help connect the homeless with services and resources.
The 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, conducted Jan. 22-24, found homelessness had increased 12% across Los Angeles County, excluding Pasadena and Long Beach, which conduct their own independent counts.
This year’s count tallied 58,938 homeless people across the county, up from 52,765 in 2018.
The San Gabriel Valley saw a sharper jump in its homeless population, to 24% this year, with last year’s count count showing 3,605 people homeless in the area and this year’s finding 4,479.
Of them:
- 3,292 were living on the streets or were otherwise unsheltered
- 1,187 were staying in shelters
- 1,055 reported suffering from serious mental illness
- 1,571 reported being victims of domestic violence
- 848 people reported having a physical disability
- 590 people reported having a substance abuse disorder
- 358 were under the age of 18