Last fall, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported a 38% decrease in homelessness in Los Angeles County. However, our own statistics tell a different story. Since July 2009, Union Station has seen an average of 110 new clients a month, an increase of 5.3% over the same time period last year.
Quickly placing clients in shelter has proved challenging for staff at our Passageways Intake Center. Our own Adult Center and Family Center facilities are operating at capacity, with open beds filled within a day. Many agencies we have worked with in the past have closed, while others are operating at a lower capacity because of decreased funding.
This means that homeless clients are often put on waiting lists. They sleep on “emergency cots” at Union Station or other agencies until space is available in a shelter. What used to take no longer than two or three days is now a four to five day process. But there is hope.
In partnership with the federal government, Union Station is providing “Rapid Re-Housing” assistance to individuals and families who have recently become homeless due to the economy. Eligible clients are moved quickly from homelessness to housing and self-sufficiency, opening up space in our shelters for more people in need. Learn more here.