Homelessness In Malibu: Learn About The Latest At A Community Meeting

MALIBU, CA — The city is hosting a virtual community meeting this month to discuss homelessness in Malibu.

The meeting will be held online Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions, share concerns and hear updates on homelessness and outreach efforts, according to city officials.

“The homelessness crisis impacts everyone, housed and unhoused, here in Malibu and across the state,” Mayor Steve Uhring said in a statement. “It is critical that the City continue to offer outreach to help people experiencing homelessness to get into housing and comprehensive services This meeting will offer an opportunity for residents to join the discussions with our homeless service providers, law enforcement, city officials, business and civic leaders, and fellow community members.”

More information about the meeting, including the meeting link, is available on the city's website.

Among those supporting homelessness outreach and services are the Malibu Outreach Team, The People Concern, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments homeless outreach coordinator and city staff.

The city began contracting for homeless outreach services in 2017 with two outreach workers and expanded its services in 2020 to include a housing navigator, according to the city.

"The City seeks to balance its service-based approach to this humanitarian crisis with the need to address the public safety, environmental, wildfire safety and quality-of-life impacts of homelessness on the community," reads a city statement.

The homeless population in Malibu has declined since 2017, based on results from the annual Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority Homeless Count.

During 2017's count, 178 homeless people were living in Malibu. Last year, 71 homeless people were counted, according to the city.

This year's homeless count takes place in Malibu on Jan. 24. Officials are seeking 75 volunteers to help count homeless people living in the city.