Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
As Homelessness Numbers Rise, Some Are Losing Patience With Politicians
A small homeless encampment near City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, March 24. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist)
()
In previous years, politicians have said it will just take a little more time for increased spending on homelessness to make a difference on the streets.
Robin Petering, who holds a doctorate in social work and runs Lens Co, a policy advocacy organization, is losing her patience.
“Two years after double digit increases, how can we have any trust in our electeds that that won’t continue to happen?" she said.
Petering works largely with youth and young adults who are homeless, or about to be. She says America's social safety net is threadbare, and that there's little public assistance to offer people before they become homeless. They only receive services once they’ve lost their home.
Support for LAist comes from
“We see that the homelessness system becomes the entrypoint for many,” she said.
But looking forward, even that homeless system is facing uncertainty, because it relies on sales tax revenue, which is dropping.
“We’ve already been told that the Measure H dollars going forward are going to be drastically reduced,” she said. (In March 2017, voters approved Measure H, which calls for a ¼ percent increase to the County’s sales tax to provide ongoing revenue for homelessness programs.)
That means a lot of uncertainty. Experts say the pandemic and associated recession might send thousands more to the street.
READ MORE ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS COUNT:
SoCal's Homeless Crisis Is Accelerating. Here Are The 2020 Numbers
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist