LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, United Way of Greater Los Angeles hosted the 3rd Annual HomeWalk to end homelessness, a 5k walk commencing in Exposition Park. With nearly 50,000 homeless men and women in Los Angeles County, nearly one-quarter of which are chronically homeless, United Way and its partners are working to drive community awareness and action as part of its year-round campaign to prevent and end homelessness. In the last two years, 8,000 people have walked, raising $1 million, and helping get over 5,000 homeless people off the streets and into housing.

"As an extreme form of poverty, homelessness is a chronic issue that affects everyone in our city -- both those that are housed and those on the streets -- and it's time we all stood together to say 'enough is enough'," said Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. "Our recent Homeless Cost Study shows that housing the homeless is not only the humane approach, it makes good business sense, and, by participating in HomeWalk, people are raising the awareness and funds necessary to meet this goal. Thanks to the community getting behind rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing solutions that work, we're seeing that change IS possible--it's up to all of us to help continue that progression and eradicate homelessness in Los Angeles."

Homeless statistics in Los Angeles County:

• Los Angeles is America's wealthiest county, with over 250,000 millionaires; it is also the nation's homeless capital
• Nearly 50,000 homeless are in Los Angeles County
• Nearly one-quarter of those homeless (24%) are chronically homeless
• 67% are unsheltered, living on the streets or in cars
• A college education does not guarantee a home: about a quarter of homeless people in Los Angeles have at least some college education
• One of the leading reasons for homelessness is the loss of a job; unemployment in Los Angeles County is in double digits for the first time since the 1990s
• Over half our households spend over 30% of income on rent, so just one crisis can push a family into homelessness
  

This year's HomeWalk speakers and participants included:

• Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas
• Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks
• Stewart Kwoh, UWGLA Board Member and Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center
• John Sotoodeh, regional president, Los Angeles metro region, Wells Fargo
  

Today's event commenced in downtown Los Angeles' Exposition Park with elected officials and thousands of participants beginning the Walk at Figueroa street. The 5k route led walkers through an educational journey starting with mobile billboards displaying the sobering facts about homelessness, true stories of previously homeless individuals, the proven solutions to end homelessness, and ways that walkers can continue their involvement. The walk finished with a signature wall for participants to commit to serve and help end homelessness Los Angeles County. Participants also signed letters to advocate to their congressional representatives in the name of homelessness.

The county-wide epidemic of homelessness is one of United Way's core priorities to create pathways out of poverty. HomeWalk is part of United Way's pledge to raise the public awareness and fund solutions to end homelessness. For more information please go to www.homewalkla.org.

About United Way of Greater Los Angeles

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty by focusing on meeting basic needs, improving educational achievement and increasing financial stability for the most vulnerable in our community. Through its research work, United Way identifies the issues and works in partnership with community leaders and supporters to solve them by funding targeted programs and advocating for change. For more information, visit www.unitedwayla.org.

SOURCE United Way of Greater Los Angeles