New Homeless Map Up
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — 
Yesterday afternoon I put the December 15th Downtown Homeless Map online. That makes four maps now that you can animate between to see how population shifts and changes over time.
Over the course of the six weeks we've been mapping these counts you can certainly see an increased scattering of homeless into the toy and fashion districts. What's interesting between the latest two maps (Dec. 1st and Dec. 15th) is how the density around 6th/Central vanishes and then reappears. I'd guess that has something to do with the weather we had around the 1st, where it was very cold and we also had a touch of rain.
Note that the animation only shows a portion of the map. For the full view click on the Maps tab and download one of the PDFs.
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Tim Quinn on December 19, 2006, at 07:37PM – #1
These maps are ultra-cool and really clarify the meaning of the data in a profound way. I look forward to seeing a year of data, or more. Then we will have enough information to draw serious conclusions about the movement and population of the people on the streets (who are not, by any means, all the homeless or all homeless)
Keep up the way excellent work, Eric. And happy holidays from the curmudgeon in the Arts District.
David Kennedy on December 19, 2006, at 07:55PM – #2
I confess I'm underwhelmed by the maps. Yes, they are attractive and professionally done. Yes, it is interesting at some point to see the data displayed in this manner. But, after looking it over, I ask "So what?"
In the absence of interpretation as to what is really going on and without other data inputs to provide context, the maps strike me as just an abstraction and for what purpose? How does this deepen our understanding of the situation? What does this tell us that we don't already know? How can this inform the creation of better policy?
Yes, I understand this is only the beginning of the process. But, without some meaningful interpretation which has some intellectual rigor and discipline, I'm not clear how this is helpful. I could easily forsee various interested parties interpreting the data to support their agenda.
Basically, the dots shift and surge from one point to another. Why? I see that the counts varies from about a 1000 to almost 1400. Why? Acceptable methodological error? I don't know. Incidentally, what is the capacity of the local shelters and how many beds are available on the dates of the count?
My concern is this process ends up being just 'busy' work without truly illuminating the nature of the problem and leading to thoughtful changes in public policy. More data, please.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on December 19, 2006, at 08:14PM – #3
David: More data, certainly. But that's the problem: there's never been the data. Counts vary because the number of people on the streets varies. That's for any number of reasons, including weather. Cold weather gets some people inside. Rain gets some people inside. The locations vary for any number of reasons as well.
These maps are not intended to interpret the situation. There is a need for that, but first there's a need for the data to simply be represented. Looking at the raw count data you would be hard pressed to see the scattering into the Arts and fashion districts, but when you look at a map they're plain and simple. The maps are objective, just a transference of the raw data into a visual form. Commentary and analysis is for others to do.
Ed Fuentes on December 20, 2006, at 08:12AM – #4
Before you can apply any interpretation with intellectual rigor, you have to know what you are analyzing. Then again, Skid Row has been victim of poverty, drug abuse, people not willing to leave, institutions uable to cure and maybe a lot of over-thinking.
Don Garza on December 21, 2006, at 09:04AM – #5
What this shows us is the real number of people in and around Central City East , who sleep out on the streets.
This is a very important number and one that needs to be tracked in this manner.
People skew the numbers of thoe who sleep out on the skid row streets and sidewalks many times , very much in the way of numbers being higher than what they should be , for their own reasons of course.
Objectivity is the word and that is important. WE need to see the numbers in this way. And see where the people are.
Anyway. this data will come in handy sooner than later, I assure you.