Community-Led Homeless Count in El Sereno | SATURDAY

MOTIVATED BY THE TRAGEDY OF GROWING HOMELESSNESS WHILE HUNDREDS OF STATE-OWNED HOMES SIT VACANT

FILE PHOTO: Kasper Tobias | SouthPasadenan.com News | A group of ‘Reclaimers’ began occupying empty CalTrans homes in March 2020, in an effort to seek shelter on the border of El Sereno and South Pasadena in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CHP officers had been staking out some of these locations

PRESS RELEASE

When: February 27, 2021 at 3 PM

What: Working in pairs, volunteers will visit homeless encampments throughout El Sereno to learn from homeless families their experience seeking housing and services

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Where: El Sereno Community Garden; 5466 Huntington Dr N; Los Angeles, CA 90032

Who: Reclaimers with Reclaim Our Homes El Sereno together with several dozen other volunteers

On Saturday, February 27, the El Sereno Reclaimers, community organizations and volunteers are conducting a homeless count in El Sereno. El Sereno is anticipating a wave of investment triggered by the public surplus sites, such as Caltrans-owned properties along the 710 corridor. By counting the amount of individuals and families living on the street, the community will be able to make data-driven demands of local politicians and government organizations.

Typically this count is formally conducted by the county, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the county-organized count has been cancelled. Congress requires such counts every two years and uses the information to distribute resources for homeless services. Due to the notable rise of individuals and families displaced and forced to live on the street, El Sereno organizations recognize the urgency of this issue.

The questions are driven by needs, e.g. has anyone in the city offered any resources? To get a better understanding of if folks have been offered resources. The survey is community-driven and written by folks who are familiar with the resources available and have firsthand experience with the issues faced by those without housing.

Over 30 community members have committed to volunteering on February 27, 50 volunteers are expected. The count is being organized by several local organizations, namely Reclaiming Our Homes (ROH), United Caltrans Tenants (UCT), Reclaim and Rebuild Our Community (RROC), Eastside Cafe, and the El Sereno Community Land Trust, with support and participation by Democratic Socialists of America (Los Angeles Chapter), Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), and LA Center for Community Law & Action (LACCLA).