PPTFH Seeks Additional Volunteers for 2025 Homeless Count

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Volunteers are needed in Pacific Palisades to count the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and their locations in the community as part of the annual Point in Time Homeless Count, which will take place on Thursday, January 23.

The count is scheduled for the early morning, beginning at approximately 5 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church—located at 880 Toyopa Drive.

The Palisades participated in the count for the first time in 2015 and has assisted annually since, with the leadership of Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness.

“Why volunteer?” PPTFH wrote on a flyer. “Make a positive impact in the lives of homeless individuals by volunteering your time and service to help with the Count. Your contribution goes well beyond your donated time. The data gathered brings needed resources and awareness to the issue.”

This year’s leader for the count is Nina Madok, who will be assisting Kim Clary.

Approximately 40 volunteers gathered last year to help conduct the annual Homeless Count in the Palisades. Individuals were divvied up into teams and made their way to the streets—spanning the Highlands, Alphabet Streets and beyond—taking count of encampments, cars, tents and individuals.

A tally by PPTFH showed a “few more” people experiencing homelessness in the area than the previous year.

PPTFH Co-President Cindi Young said a few changes were made to the process in 2024. Volunteers in the Palisades were requested to not count people experiencing homelessness on the beach or in vehicles along Pacific Coast Highway, according to Young.

“Nonetheless, PPTFH did send a team to count Will Rogers [State] Beach, as well as RVs and other vehicles along PCH,” according to PPTFH. “This enabled us to compare this year’s data with previous years’ data. PPTFH reports raw data.”

PPTFH’s count results in 2024 saw a total of 16 individuals experiencing homelessness, 43 vehicles—comprised of 25 cars, 12 vans and six RVs—and three tents, or makeshift shelters.

These numbers are slightly higher than the previous year’s findings. In 2023, PPTFH reported a total of 11 individuals, 35 vehicles and two tents, or makeshift shelters.

“This was my second year participating in the homeless count,” Palisadian Sue Kohl, now president of Pacific Palisades Community Council, said to the Palisadian-Post in 2024. “This year, for the first time, we each had [a mobile application] to use, which more accurately counted the unhoused and their locations and situations … and sent the data directly to LAHSA representatives. It was a rewarding experience.”

Volunteers receive in-depth training from the LAHSA through online videos, which take about three hours, according to PPTFH.

“Be a part of this rewarding, important once-a-year community activity,” PPTFH concluded.

To sign up to volunteer, visit count.lahsa.org/pages/volunteer-registration. For more information, contact Kim Clary at kimjdave@msn.com or Nina Madok at ninamadok@gmail.com.