DISTRICT 4 Press Releases

Council Adopts Motion From Councilmember Raman To Make Shelter Occupancy Data Publicly Available

For Immediate Release: May 10, 2023

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COUNCIL ADOPTS MOTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER RAMAN TO OBTAIN DAILY SHELTER OCCUPANCY DATA AND MAKE IT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE

LOS ANGELES — Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion introduced by Councilmember Nithya Raman to obtain daily shelter occupancy data and make it publicly available. As the City continues to make investments in interim housing and shelter sites, City employees and the public have a continuing need to access and understand the availability of shelter beds. Councilmember Raman’s legislation requests the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to obtain daily reports from all City-funded shelter sites to provide to the CAO’s City Homeless Coordinator, City Council offices, the Mayor’s office, and the City Controller.

During the COVID-19 emergency, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) provided daily occupancy reports for Project Roomkey sites to City partners. These reports were utilized to ensure that beds could be filled as quickly as possible and helped promote transparency within the shelter system.

“Where and when shelter beds are available can mean the difference between life and death for someone living on the streets,” said Councilmember Raman. “Obtaining this data on a daily basis and making it publicly available would permit people experiencing homelessness and their case managers to research which shelter options are most readily available, allowing the entire homeless services system in Los Angeles to operate with a higher degree of efficiency.”

Councilmember Raman’s legislation requests that LAHSA obtain daily reports including the following information from all City-funded shelter sites:

  • Demographic information about the population(s) the site is able to serve;
  • Eligibility requirements for entry, such as whether a site accepts walk-ins; 
  • Whether services offered include assessment, referrals, housing matches, residence within a particular catchment area, etc.; 
  • Number and percentage of beds that are occupied;
  • Number and percentage of beds that are offline, and the reason(s) they are offline; 
  • Number and percentage of beds that are available; 
  • Number of individuals referred to the site; and 
  • Number of intakes scheduled at the site for that day.

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