City reveals promising decline in homelessness rates

During a recent city council meeting, Paramount officials discussed the results of the 2024 homeless census, revealing a significant decrease in the number of homeless individuals in the city. The census, conducted by Citynet, identified 43 individuals experiencing homelessness, marking a positive trend compared to previous years.

City Manager highlighted the importance of the census, noting that it provides a more in-depth understanding of the homeless population than the county's annual count. The data collected helps the city allocate resources effectively to address homelessness. Matt Bates, Executive Vice President of Citynet, presented comparative data from the 2022 and 2023 censuses, emphasizing that the overall number of homeless individuals has declined, which is a rare occurrence in many municipalities facing rising homelessness.

Bates described the typical profile of the unsheltered homeless individual in Paramount as a Hispanic or Latino male aged 45 to 54, who is chronically homeless. He noted that while 77% of those surveyed expressed interest in case management services, 43% were not interested in shelter, a statistic Bates attributed to the need for building trust between service providers and the homeless community.

The council was encouraged by the findings, which suggest that investments in local outreach and engagement efforts, as well as training for law enforcement, have yielded positive results. Bates recommended continued investment in housing solutions and regional partnerships to further address homelessness in the city.

The meeting concluded with council members expressing gratitude for the insights provided by Bates and reaffirming their commitment to improving services for the homeless population in Paramount.