Los Angeles County conducts an offical count of the homeless every year in January.At the Culver City Council meeting on Jan. 11, 2024, the council received an update from the Housing and Human Services Department in regard to the city’s participation, and the status of Project Homekey, Wellness Village (formerly Safe Sleep) and the Mobile Crisis Unit.
The homeless count will be conducted in late January. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) will lead the census throughout the county, including Culver City. The City will conduct an internal count on January 24th, 2024 with the help of a number of community partners. Internal staff will help with the accuracy of the count.
In addition, the Mobile Crisis Unit’s long awaited van was delivered in December. The unmarked van has tinted windows for privacy. The team will hold an outreach event and public unveiling on February 27th, 2024. Lastly, the update included photos from the holiday celebrations at both Project Homekey and Wellness Village.
Fourteen people now reside at Project Homekey with an additional four to six people expected to be moving into the facility in the coming weeks. In a three to two vote, it was approved to scale back updates on the homelessness emergency to every 60 days instead of at every council meeting unless deemed necessary.
Vice Mayor Dan O’Brien, Council Members Goran Eriksson and Albert Vera voted in favor of the change. Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Council Member Freddy Puza voted against.
Later in the meeting, the council also accepted $1 million in state funding for the Jubilo Village Affordable Housing Development located at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard, as well as $500,000 for the Wende Museum Affordable Housing for Artists at Risk Development located at 10860 Culver Boulevard through the Department of Housing and Community Development. Council also approved a budget amendment to record the revenue of $1.5 million and appropriate the funds to the project.
