Fewer homeless?

Really? Seems counterintuitive given the recession and all, but a new report by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority pegs the homeless population - as of January - at 42,694, down from 68,808 in 2007. The population is still centered in central and downtown L.A., but even those numbers are down sharply, according to the report. The homeless authority, which is a joint city-county agency, touts initiatives by - guess who? - both the city and county. It's good to be skeptical. There have been signs of fewer people living on the streets, but it's a confusing picture because there's also much greater demand at soup kitchens and shelters. Plus, unemployment in L.A. County is nearing 13 percent. Why would homelessness be going down? Here's the press release, via LAT.