Los Angeles, CA – A recent tweet from user "EIE" has directly challenged the Los Angeles City Controller, Kenneth Mejia, regarding the public availability and accuracy of data on unhoused deaths, specifically calling for an update to the 2023 homeless death map and the release of a 2024 version. The tweet emphasized the critical need for this data to effectively "chart and study the changes over time to see if policy is working." This public appeal highlights the ongoing demand for transparency and actionable insights into the city's homelessness crisis.
The LA Controller's office did release a 2023 Unhoused Deaths Map, which initially reported approximately 900 unhoused individuals died in the City of Los Angeles that year. This data, sourced from the LA County Medical-Examiner Coroner, indicated a decrease from 2022 figures. However, the Controller's office later issued a clarification, noting that the reported 900 deaths might not represent the complete picture for 2023, as some cases were still under investigation by the medical examiner.
The 2023 map provided crucial details, revealing that a significant majority, 73% of deaths, occurred in streets or areas without proper utilities, such as tents, parking lots, and sidewalks. It also highlighted disproportionate impacts, with Black individuals, who constitute 8% of the city's general population, accounting for 31% of unhoused deaths. Council Districts 1 and 14 recorded the highest numbers of fatalities among the unhoused.
Controller Mejia's office maintains a commitment to data transparency, with its website featuring various data tools including a "Homelessness Dashboard" and an entry for "2024 | Map" alongside the 2023 unhoused deaths data. This suggests an ongoing effort to compile and present current information. The Controller's office has also undertaken audits related to homelessness programs, such as Mayor Karen Bass's "Inside Safe" initiative, aiming to assess effectiveness and accountability.
The call from EIE underscores the broader public and advocacy community's reliance on comprehensive and current data to evaluate the efficacy of policies and interventions aimed at addressing homelessness. Accurate and timely reporting on unhoused deaths is vital for policymakers, service providers, and the public to understand trends, identify vulnerable populations, and allocate resources effectively in the ongoing effort to mitigate the crisis.