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Program that sends unarmed crisis teams to serve unhoused people expands to LA's Westside
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a news conference announcing the expansion of the CIRCLE program.
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Courtesy office of Mayor Karen Bass
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Topline:
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on Monday the expansion of a program that sends unarmed mental health workers and staff with lived experience to respond to non-violent incidents that involve people who are unhoused.
What is CIRCLE: It stands for Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement. Mayor Bass’s office said more than 14,000 incidents were diverted to CIRCLE last fiscal year. The idea is to relieve police of what they call “quality of life” calls like trespassing or loitering.
About the expansion sites: The Mayor’s Office said CIRCLE would be expanding to these neighborhoods: Oakwood, Mar Vista, Palms, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, Westchester, Manchester Square and Dockweiler Beach. It was already running in Hollywood, Venice, downtown L.A., and in areas of South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
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How to contact CIRCLE: Members of the public can access CIRCLE through the non-emergency line at (877) 275-5273 or (877) ASK-LAPD. Choose the non-emergency dispatch option.
Why now? In a statement, Congressman Ted Lieu said he worked to get $1.5 million for the expansion through the federal appropriations process in 2022.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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