Interactive Map of Unsheltered Populations in Los Angeles

Data from the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey

Colleen M. McCullough, Jason M. Ward, Rick Garvey, Sarah B. Hunter

ToolPublished May 23, 2024

This tool presents data from RAND’s Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS) study. The ongoing project collects primary data on the size of unsheltered populations in three Los Angeles neighborhoods: Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice.

Since 2021, our field teams have periodically collected data on the number of unhoused persons and informal shelters in each neighborhood. Currently, 35 waves of data are available for Skid Row between September 2021 and December 2023; 22 waves are available for Hollywood between October 2021 and November 2023; and 22 waves are available for Venice between October 2021 and December 2023.

For more on the history and methodology of this study, see our published study and the associated appendixes.

This tool was revised in July 2024 to include data from 2023.

How to Use This Tool

Select a neighborhood and a metric to view a map with estimates for each subgeography, which covers roughly the area of one to three city blocks.

There are five metrics available in the tool:

  • a total unadjusted count of unsheltered persons plus tents, makeshift structures, and vehicles that appear to be used as shelters
  • a count of tents or other makeshift structures
  • a count of vehicles, including cars, vans, and RVs, that appear to be used as shelters
  • two counts of all unhoused persons associated with all informal shelters using different imputation models: a full multiplier (higher estimate) and hybrid model (lower estimate).

The tool also presents a total for each neighborhood, metric, and data wave selected.

Note: Neighborhood totals for the estimated person metrics may differ from those in the accompanying report because of rounding errors when applying the weighting algorithm to block-level counts (this tool) versus the neighborhood counts (the report).

Topics

Product Details

  • Release Date: May 23, 2024
  • Last Modified: Jul 2, 2024
  • Version: 2.0
  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Status: Active
  • Document Number: TL-A1890-1

Citation

RAND Style Manual
McCullough, Colleen M., Jason M. Ward, Rick Garvey, and Sarah B. Hunter, Interactive Map of Unsheltered Populations in Los Angeles: Data from the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey, RAND Corporation, TL-A1890-1, 2024. As of September 7, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TLA1890-1.html
Chicago Manual of Style
McCullough, Colleen M., Jason M. Ward, Rick Garvey, and Sarah B. Hunter, Interactive Map of Unsheltered Populations in Los Angeles: Data from the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TLA1890-1.html.
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Research conducted by

The development of this tool was supported by the Zwick Impact Fund and conducted by the Community Health and Environmental Policy Program and the Center for Housing and Homelessness within RAND Social and Economic Well-Being.

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