42% of homeless are found at risk

Almost half of Santa Monica’s homeless population is at risk of dying prematurely, is predominantly white and male, and has spent more than a decade sleeping on the streets, a city report found Thursday.

The report concluded a seven-day project that involved 60 city employees, county social service agencies and Common Ground, a New York-based nonprofit agency that conducts surveys on the homeless.

Of 277 people counted sleeping on the streets last week, the group was able to interview 261 of them during the early morning hours Monday through Wednesday.

The study found that 110 people -- about 42% -- met at least one high-risk criterion for dying on the streets, such as being elderly or chronically ill. The 110 people were classified as the “most vulnerable” and ranked in order to determine who needs medical care and housing urgently.

Julie Rusk, the city’s human services manager, said Santa Monica will house the 10 most vulnerable homeless people as soon as possible, then continue to move down the list, 10 at a time, as far as resources allow.

The group’s report also showed a sharp racial contrast between the homeless population of the beachfront community and that of downtown Los Angeles. In December, a similar Common Ground survey found that 70% of skid row’s most vulnerable population was black, but that in Santa Monica 74% was white.