The Santa Clarita community gathered to participate in the 2020 Los Angeles County Homeless Count on Tuesday evening.

A number of unsheltered individuals live within Santa Clarita, and the purpose of this count is to have a better understanding of how many are in need of support, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

“There is not one simple solution to end homelessness, but by working together, we can make progress to help those who need it most,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth.

About 130 volunteers signed up to help with the Santa Clarita homeless count, according to Smyth.

“A piece of our overall efforts to really find the residents that are experiencing homelessness and compile data, this helps develop a Santa Clarita-specific plan to get the resources they need,” Smyth said. “Because the face of homelessness in Santa Clarita is different than what you may see in Los Angeles or the Antelope Valley, it’s important to develop that data for our response.”

An important facet of the count every year is refining the process. While the number itself is important, it is also important that the count becomes more accurate, Smyth said.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count last night in the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys! The Homeless Count continues today and tomorrow. Sign up at https://t.co/pjLcYdHJE5. #TheyCountWillYou #HomelessCount2020 pic.twitter.com/PKjhIgWZbq

— LA Homeless Services Authority (@LAHomeless) January 22, 2020

Two staffers from L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office participated in the Santa Clarita count, according to Michelle Vega, a spokesperson for Barger.

“It’s a pleasure to be part of such a helpful task, and this is a priority for the supervisor — getting resources to people who may need it,” Vega said.

The homeless count allows for specific help to be delivered, including mental health and substance abuse care, according to Vega.

Thankful for my field rep Michelle and community members for their attention to the issue of homelessness. Participating in @LAHomeless Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count helps everyone gain a better understanding of the resources needed to address this crisis. pic.twitter.com/AIHPR35zUd

— Assemblywoman Christy Smith (@AsmChristySmith) January 22, 2020

The City of Santa Clarita’s homeless population was counted as 256 in 2019, according to the results of last year’s count.

This is about a 60 percent increase from 2018 to 2019, but still not as high as the 2017 count, which was 279 homeless people living in Santa Clarita, according to County officials.

The 2020 homeless count results are expected to be available in the coming months.

In addition to the homeless count, the County also includes the homeless in their census. The Los Angeles County census involving homeless individuals is set to be conducted between March 30 and April 1.

For more information on the Los Angeles County Homeless Count, visit here.

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