Social services reach out to unhoused during storms, though most decline service

An unhoused person rests during a downpour of rain in Norwalk. He left before the city HOPE team could arrive to provide assistance. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK - Norwalk continues to offer resources for unhoused community members throughout the winter storms at the Social Services Center.

Levy Sun, the communications director for the city, explained Norwalk’s Homeless Operation Prevention and Engagement [HOPE] team continuously reaches out to unhoused people and offers assistance.

However, not every person will accept the resources offered to them.

Approximately 249 people experiencing homelessness were contacted in February, according to the HOPE team. Only 58 people were willing to receive assistance.

As of March 11, approximately 59 unhoused people were contacted, but only 12 would accept the resources they were offered, the communications director said.

“Resources are provided based on their individual needs,” Sun said. “Once a person experiencing homelessness accepts help from our HOPE team, they are directed to the Social Services Center to speak with a case worker.”

Norwalk is partnered with multiple nonprofit organizations that assist unhoused people such as Kingdom Causes in Bellflower and Whittier First Day.

“If the person experiencing homelessness are referred to an organization that can provide more long term housing, they usually do qualify for the motel voucher from us,” Sun said. “We usually give them out as long as we know there’s a plan in place. So that way, they can stay somewhere safe until they can transition to something that’s more long term.”

The city motel voucher would be valid for a motel in Norwalk, depending on availability. Janice Hahn presented Norwalk with a $90,000 check to update the city’s homeless plan.

Since then, Norwalk began construction of the “Veteran Villas at San Antonio Drive,” a 60-unit the veteran housing project to curb veteran homelessness. It will become the first veteran housing project in the gateway cities region.