An Evaluation of the S-Night Street Enumeration of the Homeless in Los Angeles

An evaluation of S-Night estimated that between 59% and 70% of the homeless on the streets of downtown Los Angeles were missed by the Census Bureau. The evaluation placed "observers" at street sites in downtown Los Angeles during the 2-hour street count and interviewed 50 homeless people over the following 3 days. Enumerators were seen at 19 of 39 sites in part because they were working from an incomplete list of places where homeless people often congregate. Enumerators also appeared rushed, and many did not speak Spanish. In addition, the danger associated with visiting some of the sites may have intimidated some enumerators, and the unusually visible presence of media and police may have driven many homeless further into hiding.