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14:4414:44The Homelessness Crisis in LA: How Did We Get Here?#108: It's no surprise that homeless is a top concern among Angelenos. The best-available info at this point says there are more than 69,000 people experiencing homeless in L.A. County – a 4% rise from the last time the survey was conducted in 2020. In a recent LAist survey of 4,339 people, two-thirds of respondents said it's the main thing L.A. Mayor Karen Bass needs to prioritize. One-third of folks says it causes them stress. Mayor Bass seems to know this. In December she declared a state of emergency and pledged to put 17,000 unhoused people into a mix of interim and permanent housing. She also launched her signature program Inside Safe, which aims to give people living outdoors immediately housing in motels or hotels. Elected officials and local advocates have been trying to address the issues that lead to homelessness for years, but we’re still here…and many are wondering…how did we get here? How did LA end up with the largest unhoused population in the country? Who’s in charge of what? And how do people ACTUALLY get help? In this episode we'll try to answer these questions. Guest: Nick Gerda, unhoused communities reporter for LAist Wondering how you can help? Here are some tips from Nick's reporting on LAist: Request homeless outreach services for a particular unhoused person: Contact LAHSA’s Homeless Outreach Portal. But it could take a few days for an outreach team to show up “due to high demand,” according to LAHSA. Volunteer and donate to organizations serving unhoused people. Here’s LAHSA’s list of volunteer opportunities by region in L.A. County. And the city’s volunteer referral program: VolunteerLA. You can also volunteer for next year’s point-in-time count at TheyCountWillYou.org. Support new affordable housing development in neighborhoods: The shortage of affordable housing is widely considered the main driver of the homelessness crisis. Developing more housing — especially affordable and permanent supportive homes — through faster city approvals and support from neighbors — is considered key to addressing the issue. If you want to help these efforts you can speak at public meetings. Lease to voucher holders: Property owners can lease their vacant properties to people who have federal and local housing vouchers. L.A. County’s program to support landlords is called LeaseUp (more info available here). For more, check out Nick’s guide: Your Guide To Understanding Homelessness In LA
About How To LA
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We’re here to help curious Angelenos connect with others, discover the new, navigate the confusing, and even drive some change along the way. Host Brian De Los Santos brings you stories about L.A., for L.A., by L.A. — with your help. Like you, we know this city is unique, and that’s why it’s one of the reasons we love it.
How To LA Newsletter
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Our newsletter host Aaricka Washington offers up a daily dose of news, L.A. life hacks, and inspo to explore our city. Sign up to get the best headlines and tips from LAist every weekday morning.
Recent Newsletters
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The city launched the pilot program Big: Leap for low income families. Here’s how it impacted lives. -
A recent LAist survey found that 63% Southern Californians view homelessness as a top issue. We are watching the progress.
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As eviction cases pile up, most tenants show up to court without lawyers.
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You can power How To LA
This great community resource only exists with your reader support. Help us tell stories about LA’s rich history and exciting future, as well as answer the deeper questions on important issues. Step up and become a member today with a donation! Let’s explore and discover our great city together.
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Cars may rule the roads here, but there are ways to make it work on two wheels.
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How To Explain LA
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The mosquito season can start as early as April.
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Is it a river? A sewer? A flood control channel? A place to film awesome drag racing scenes? A tool of gentrifiers to raise property values? What's the deal with the L.A. River, and why should I care about it? Let's find out.
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There's the LAPD. And the L.A. Sheriff's Department. And 45 smaller departments. And every Cal State has a department. Also UCLA. And CHP. And FBI. And DEA. And...
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This summer, millions of Angelenos can't use use drinkable water for outdoor irrigation more than twice a week. Here are tips how to conserve.
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To understand the Eastside, you first have to understand the Eastside.
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Chinatown hasn't had a grocery store in three years; a new farmers' market fills some of the void.
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The city of Los Angeles is relaunching its speed hump program on Oct. 6, but it's only accepting a finite number of applications, so act quickly!
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Earlier this year, Pacoima Beautiful painted 10 square blocks and murals with a special coat that mitigates the hotness of the asphalt, reflects solar waves and beautifies the area.
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The city of Los Angeles is relaunching its speed hump program on Oct. 6, but it's only accepting a finite number of applications, so act quickly!
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L.A. County renters are losing COVID-19 protections, but other safeguards will remain in place.
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Most Californians get extended coverage until November.
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The underground passages are a symbol of how cars changed Los Angeles and marked the beginning of the end of autonomy for children.
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The games were more than casual fun. They were massive public assemblies where people could socialize and strategize.
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From Los Angeles's earliest days as a city, boosters have sold it as an outdoor paradise, waiting to be explored on foot. It still is.
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Though early records are murky due to a lack of primary source historical records, we can piece together a legacy of Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles stretching back to 1888.
