Homeless Population Decreases by Nearly 5% in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's homeless population decreased 4.88 percent from 2012 to 742, according to the Citywide 2014 Homeless Count announced Monday at a Social Service Commission meeting.

The count conducted Jan. 29 found the street homeless population was 346, a 8.9 percent decrease from the 380 in 2013; 57 people sleeping in cars, 10.9 percent less than the 64 in 2013; and 396 in shelters and institutions, a 1 percent decrease from the 400 in 2013.

There was a 39 percent decrease in the number of homeless people living in downtown Santa Monica, from 141 in 2013 to 86 in 2014. The area is defined as between Ocean Avenue, Lincoln Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard and Pico Boulevard, including all of Palisades Park and the Santa Monica Pier.

--City News Service