By Lookout Staff

December 20, 2011 -- How many homeless persons live in Santa Monica? Who are they and where do they live?

The City of Santa Monica is seeking volunteers to help answer those questions when it counts the number of homeless in the beachside city as part of the nation’s largest census of people living on the streets of LA County.

Last year, the Homeless Count found 740 people living on the streets or in shelters, almost the same number as the previous year, but 175 fewer homeless persons than in 2009.

This year's count will take place on Wednesday, January 25 from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and is part of the countywide census by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

Staff from the City and service agencies will team up with community volunteers to comb every block of Santa Monica – a total of 226 street miles -- and count the number of people sleeping on every street.

At the same time, homeless in the city’s shelters, jails, motels and hospitals will counted by staff at those facilities.

Following the count, a representative sample of homeless residents will be surveyed throughout the County to gather more in-depth information, which will be used as the benchmark for planning and funding programs.

Last year's Homeless Count involved 150 volunteers in small teams. The results showed 263 homeless on the streets, 51 homeless vehicles or encampments, and 426 in shelters or institutions – a total count of 740 homeless.

In 2010, the count came up with 742 persons – nearly the same as in 2011 -- but a 19 percent reduction from 2009 when 915 homeless were counted.

In 2007, a survey conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) counted nearly 1,000 homeless in Santa Monica.

Final results of this year's count will be published in a report later this year.

"Given the economic stresses of the past several years, it is noteworthy that the homeless population has not increased," City officials said.

"Especially of note is the continued absence of families living on the streets and the continued reduction in people living in their vehicles," officials said.

They attribute this in part to the Eviction Prevention & Rehousing Assistance Program that was made possible by federal stimulus funding in 2009. To-date, the program has helped more than 100 Santa Monica residents avoid homelessness, officials said.

"In addition, while new homeless individuals may continue to migrate to Santa Monica, the City's focus on assistance for the most vulnerable chronically homeless people has also contributed to a zero net gain in the population," officials said.

To volunteer, RSVP at http://www.smgov.net/homelesscountvolunteer.aspx or call the Human Services Division at 310-458-8701. You can also Email humanservices@smgov.net