Hollywood Faces Rising 'Rough Sleepers' as Tent Removals Increase Homelessness Challenges
In Hollywood, a recent initiative by the nonprofit Hollywood 4WRD has highlighted a growing issue of 'rough sleepers'—individuals without tents or vehicles for shelter—on the streets. This development follows the city's efforts to remove prominent encampments, which has inadvertently increased the number of people sleeping without any form of shelter. A novel homeless count conducted by Hollywood 4WRD involved about 60 volunteers who spread out across Hollywood to tally tents, makeshift shelters, and visibly homeless individuals. The count revealed a significant shift in the homeless population's living conditions, with a notable increase in those sleeping rough. The Rand Corporation's LA LEADS project, which has been surveying homelessness in Hollywood, Venice, and Skid Row, found that 52% of the homeless in Hollywood are now rough sleepers, a shift that complicates efforts to address unsheltered homelessness. 
