WeHo Community Survey Charts City's Priorities

A broad-reaching survey conducted by the West Hollywood Department of Human Services found that the vast majority of residents are happy living in the city, and place a high priority on social services that support seniors, young children and the homeless.

Presented to the West Hollywood City Council Last Week, the study comprised data gathered from the 2010 U.S. Census, health statistics provided by Los Angeles County, and information gathered from 727 local survey respondents.

In addition to the surveys, the city hosted 11 pop-up workshops at various locations throughout West Hollywood, 13 focus groups and 31 individual interviews.

The preliminary study was approved by the city council last week, and will be finalized and made available the public on May 8.

The study found that, though demographics are changing slightly in West Hollywood, residents are still largely very happy to live there. Of those who participate in the survey, 90-percent were happy about it.

According to the survey, residents most appreciated that West Hollywood was safe, pedestrian oriented, centrally located, near amenities and clean.

Respondents dislikes included traffic, lack of parking and the prevalence of homeless individuals.

Since the city was established in 1985, it has used urveys to determine residents' social services priorities.

In 2013, the survey indicates that those priorities are to provide services that respond to the needs of the city's homeless, care for young children and provide seniors with the means to continue living independently in their homes.

Who Lives in WeHo?

As it was in 2006, gay men continue to make up the largest portion of West Hollywood's population, while the number of residents who identify as heterosexuals or lesbians has slightly decreased.  

"West Hollywood remains a community of adults, most of whom live alone in units which they rent," a summary of the findings states. "The largest demographic groups continue to be gay men, seniors and immigrants from countries of the former Soviet Union. There are more men than women living in West Hollywood."

The number of residents who identified as Latino/Latina and Asian-Pacific Islander on the 2010 US Census also increased in West Hollywood.

Families make up a smaller portion of West Hollywood than they have in the past. According to census data, the number of families living with children has gone down since 2000.

Councilman John Heilman quipped that city dating service would likely decrease social services costs.

"Maybe we should offer some dating service, it may reduce our need for social services if people were partnered," Heilman said, drawing laughter from the city council audience.

The number of residents living below the poverty line has increased since 2000, a number that mirrors trends across the nation.

WeHo is Healthier than Most Cities, With Some Exceptions

West Hollywood residents have better access to healthcare, are less obese, show lower incidence of chronic disease and live loner than their Los Angeles County peers.

However, there are still causes from concerns regarding the city's overall health.

According to the health data provided by the county, 94 individuals per-year are diagnosed with HIV in West Hollywood, a rate ten times higher than the L.A. County average.

The report also shows that while HIV diagnoses remain higher than average for the county, the city has shown a steady decline in AIDS diagnoses.

West Hollywood residents are also most likely to suffer from alcohol related injuries, and smoke cigarettes at five percent higher rate than the L.A. County average.