In an effort to help end homelessness, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center will be a deployment center for the largest homeless census in the nation – the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count – on Thursday, Janu. 26 from 8 to 11 p.m. at 6041 Cadillac Ave., Los Angeles.
“Living in this community, I’ve seen homelessness become an increasing problem. Something really needs to be done,” said Cynthia Berry, a staff member at Kaiser Permanente, who volunteered at the Homeless Count event last year.
In partnership with the Los Angeles Services Authority (LAHSA), about 60 Kaiser Permanente volunteers and local area residents will go out in the surrounding communities to capture the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the West Los Angeles area.
According to LAHSA, more than 46,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County were counted in 2016, an overall increase of 2,515 people.
“Individuals experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable in our communities,” says Celia Brugman, Community Benefit Health Manager, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center.
“We are proud to partner with an agency that’s dedicated to improving their lives, and a critical part of that is accurately identifying the number of individuals who are homeless. By assessing this we can better advocate for these individuals by leveraging funding and resources.”
For more information on the 2016 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, visit: www.theycountwillyou.org.
