A view of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California, from Brand Park in Glendale. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

About 54,000 people were counted as homeless in Los Angeles County this year, an 18% increase compared with the last survey 2011, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. About 15% of the county’s homeless are from the San Fernando Valley, which also has an increase, especially among families.

To help the homeless, Zev Yaroslavsky (LA County Supervisor) championed Project 50 in 2010, an initiative to identify Skid Row’s 50 most vulnerable and chronically homeless families, and get them housing, medical care, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment so they can live off the streets. Didi Hirsh is an extension of Project 50, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Kita S. Curry, said the new wing at Project 50 will help 60 women with children for six months at a time. Curry said that “People who are homeless will likely succeed if they have a home first.”

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