HOMELESS TALLY THEMSELVES TRANSIENTS HELP CONDUCT SPECIAL CENSUS IN L.A. COUNTY.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

SUN VALLEY - Donald ``Red'' Wiget stalked the nighttime shadows of Sun Valley Park hunting for prey at the point of his flashlight: fellow transients.

``Hey, Dan. Brother Dan,'' he hissed to a familiar face among three men crouched under an oak. ``We're counting the homeless. Don't worry - I don't need your name.''

Score one for Wiget, among hundreds of homeless workers paid to fan out across Los Angeles County, combing the streets for a first-ever tally of the county's homeless.

The three-day count, coordinated by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, was set to end early today. It is part of a national effort to better direct millions in federal funds and to track help for those lacking shelter.

The data will be supplemented next month by surveys of transients and those at risk of ending up on the street. Results will be announced in June.

Counts were taken Tuesday night from such centers including those in San Fernando and Pacoima, as well as the Los Angeles Family Housing shelter in North Hollywood, where scores of homeless workers hoped to earn extra money searching 24 census tracts until 1 a.m.

At least one city official joined them to beat the pavement.

``Got my jeans, my boots and good night vision,'' said City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. ``For Los Angeles, it's a reality check.''

For Wiget, the count was reality. For no one was better suited to stalk the 14-mile swath from Clybourn Avenue to the heights of Glenoaks Boulevard.

From his first puff of weed at age 8 to his current winter shelter and drug treatment program at age 41, the ex-con has been shot at, robbed, arrested - and homeless.

``I'm really excited about this,'' said Wiget, whose red goatee was no match for the bright yellow cap emblazoned with the slogan, ``Everyone Counts 2005 Homeless Count in Los Angeles.''

``This is an opportunity to get out and help.''

His mission was to scout the streets. Alleys. Parks. Freeway underpasses. Railroad bridges. Abandoned cars. And all known hangouts for bag ladies and homeless men.

And in the half-light of street lamps, he had to distinguish between regular and ``rugged-looking people.''

``The borrachos have all left,'' said Alejandro Escalante, 31, a homeless day laborer, outside a 7-Eleven hangout. ``Everybody's in the shelter'' because of the rain.

Everybody except the hobo in the intersection. The transient in the recreation vehicle. The men digging through Dumpsters. The bag lady by the taco stand.

``I need new clothes. They just stole my blue jeans today - three pairs, all gone,'' said Andrea Haro, 39, who for three years has slept by her shopping cart behind a nearby Catholic church.

``I went to a Porta Potti, and they took my blanket, jeans, underwear, socks, everything.

By night's end, Wiget had tallied 12 homeless in an area he knew contained dozens more.

U.S. Census Bureau officials have estimated there are 84,000 homeless residents each night throughout the county. This week, federal housing officials announced that $55 million will be spent on homeless in Los Angeles County this year.

Some were skeptical of the motives for the tally in relation to what's at stake.

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Donald Wiget, himself homeless, talks with a homeless woman, Andrea Haro, while he works in a special census of those who are without shelter in Los Angeles County.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer