Los Angeles Wants Socks For Census Drive

LOS ANGELES – To count the homeless in Los Angeles during the upcoming Census, the city wants people to donate socks to be offered to transients in the hope that they will come forward, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of the Census announced.

The month-long sock drive to support the U.S. Census Bureau’s homeless enumeration program March 29-31 is being called “Make the Homeless Count.”

“Socks are a necessity that many in our homeless communities do without, and by calling on residents to support their fellow Angelenos, we are ensuring we reach those most in need.” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“Achieving an accurate count of the homeless population will be critical in getting our fair share of resources to provide housing and supportive services over the next decade.”

According to the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority, nearly 25,000 people are homeless in the city of Los Angeles on any given night, nearly 4,000 of them on Skid Row alone.

“Engaging and counting thousands of homeless Angelenos is one the greatest challenges we face as we work towards a complete count,” said James T. Christy, regional director of the Los Angeles Census Bureau office. “We appreciate the efforts of the Mayor’s Office of the Census to reach one of the hardest-to-count communities in America by providing a basic need.”

The donated socks will be distributed at six events across the city on March 30th, the second day of the Census homeless count. Donations can be made at the following locations:

— LAPD Stations;

— Los Angeles City Hall, 3rd Floor, 200 N. Spring St.;

— Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., with boxes located in South and West Halls;

— Coalition of Mental Health Professionals, 9219 S. Broadway;

— Watts Labor Community Action Committee-Human Services Department, 10950 South Central Ave.; and

— Save Our Future, 4103 West Adams Blvd.

For a complete list of drop-off locations, or to host a sock drive, visit www.lacounts2010.org.