Los Angeles:  In an effort to identify the number of homeless who inhabit skid row on a nightly basis, a survey was performed by Central Area officers, homeless service providers and members of the Historical Downtown Los Angeles Business Improvement District. 

The focus area encompassed Chinatown on the north, Washington Boulevard on the south, the Harbor (110) Freeway on the west and the Los Angeles River on the east.  Only those located on the street or on a sidewalk were included in the survey, and not those housed by homeless shelters.  Interestingly, homeless shelters reported having a total of 140 available beds. 

The survey was performed during a 4-hour window, beginning on February 21, 2006, at 11:30 p.m., and ending on February 22, 2006, at 3:30 a.m.  Surveyors identified a total of 1,345 people, 1,061 men and 284 women who inhabited skid row.  The following numbers represent the typical structures used as shelter from the elements, 303 boxes, 216 tarps/tents and 187 camping tents.  

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