Today wasn’t Michael’s first encounter with a homeless sweep in Los Angeles. But today was different. The RV that he calls home wouldn’t start. With the LAPD and LA Sanitation closing in, the threat of losing everything he owned loomed large.
Councilwoman Traci Park of Los Angeles has taken a hard stance, consistently pushing for the removal of homeless RVs in Council District 11. While she champions this cause, she simultaneously delays housing solutions for the homeless in Venice.
No one wishes to see homeless encampments or RVs lining the streets. But displacing homeless people without offering substantial support isn’t the answer. It merely shifts the problem and burdens taxpayers without providing real solutions.
Politicians often claim that they offer the homeless shelter beds, hotels, or housing. However, the stark reality is that many are simply placed on waiting lists. When a bed does become available, it’s often due to political pressure, not a system that works. Those who have waited for months, including the disabled, are left out in the cold so politicians can tout their “success” stories.
Los Angeles is in dire need of shelters and housing solutions. Of the 50,000 homeless individuals in the city, Mayor Bass’ “Inside Safe” program managed to house only 1,300 in half a year. Astonishingly, recent data reveals that the Inside Safe program’s hotel accommodations cost an exorbitant $17K per person per month. To put it into perspective, the entire county only has about 16,000 shelter beds.
Statistics paint a worrying picture: for every 100% rise in median rent, there’s a 9% increase in homelessness. As these numbers swell, Los Angeles’s strategy of out-of-sight, out-of-mind will only exacerbate the crisis.
If you live in Los Angeles, here is a link for the City Council contact information broken down by district. Please reach out to your legislators to demand they stop the sweeps.
Nationally, please support Housing Not Handcuffs
We all must advocate for more housing and support services and stop homeless sweeps at the local level. At the same time, we must continue to pressure state and federal legislators. Your voice can help end homelessness. If we do not fix the affordable housing crisis, homelessness will worsen.
Click here to tweet, email, call, or Facebook your federal and state legislators to tell them ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing is a priority to you.
More on Los Angeles Homeless Sweeps:
Women Scramble to Save Belongings from RV Homeless Sweep https://youtu.be/jZpi1hSdD3k?si=KGNPEoHpy5VJ3Gu7
