By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

On Jan. 17, a reception was held at the Holy Family grade school auditorium to welcome Dr. Laura Duncan as the organization’s new executive director.

Duncan is a familiar face at Glendale-based Ascencia; before assuming the reins from former executive director Natalie Profant Komuro, Duncan was on the management team, overseeing the program operations as well as having other responsibilities.

At the reception, attended by Ascencia supporters, dignitaries including Glendale City Councilmember Paula Devine, family and friends, Duncan shared harsh numbers that represent global homelessness.

“Worldwide there are 150 million people experiencing homelessness,” she told the audience. “In the United States, there are a half million people roughing it.”

She then referenced the homeless count, which was being held less than a week away.

“In 2018 there were 286 souls who experienced homelessness in Glendale,” she said. “That is a 55% increase over the previous year.”

She added that, with no additional staff or funding that would directly impact that statistic, Ascencia staff rose to meet this crisis. Ascencia housed 30% more households “despite a shrunken supply of available affordable housing.”

In an interview with CVW, Duncan said that the information collected during the homeless count is “extremely important to our team.” Ascencia’s mission, according to its website, is to lift people out of homelessness, one person, one family at a time. Ascencia envisions a community where people in need can find services, resources, and safe, affordable housing.

Duncan said that Ascencia also keeps tabs on the homeless counts in Burbank and West Hollywood as these are “co-location” spots.

“But there’s no wrong door when entering homelessness,” she said. “We can service anyone.”

She said with the increase in homeless numbers in 2018 and the subsequent passage of Proposition HHH and Measure H, there is a perception that there is plenty of funding available to meet the needs of homeless. But Duncan said that is not the case.

“The money was doled out according to specific areas,” she said. “Eighty-eight cities in LA County offer Continuum of Care.”

The HUD Continuum of Care program works with local entities that assist the homeless. Prop HHH and Measure H also take into consideration the number of homeless in a specific area when making decisions on how to distribute funds.

Duncan said that one reason the count is so important is that every winter LAHSA – the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority – contracts with organizations to operate temporary shelters. These temporary shelters affect the number of each city’s homeless count, impacting funding sources.

If a homeless person takes shelter in one of these temporary shelters during the count, it would appear that area would have more homeless – which could possibly increase funding for that area. But after the count, when those people make their way back to their “home area,” funding would not reflect the change in location.

“It’s not a perfect system,” Duncan said.

But she seems ready for the challenge.

“I intend to run Ascencia with sincerity, genuineness and empathy,” she said. “Ascencia’s core values are integrity, respect and harmony.”

  robin goldsworthy