With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
A 2-Year Lawsuit Demanded LA Shelter Unhoused People. Officials Have Agreed
As part of the agreement with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, the city will provide beds over the next five years in each council district for 60% of the city’s unsheltered residents.
(
Ethan Ward
/
LAist
)
The city of Los Angeles Friday announced the settlement of its part of a lawsuit filed two years ago demanding the local government find shelter for the unhoused population in the city and the county.
As part of the agreement with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, the city will provide beds over the next five years in each council district for 60% of the city’s unsheltered residents. The city is expected to bring 14,000 to 16,000 beds online.
The city council and U.S. District Court Judge David Carter, who's overseeing the case, must still approve the settlement.
The agreement settles a key part of a case stemming from a March 2020 federal lawsuit over housing for people living on Skid Row.
Support for LAist comes from
Since the suit was first filed, the scope of the case has expanded to L.A.'s larger unhoused community.
The city's housing commitment is based on the results of the 2020 unhoused count. The 2022 point-in-time homeless count results will be released next month. Once the city reaches its shelter obligation, it will be allowed to enforce the city’s anti-camping ordinance in that entire district. The city does not have a department of mental health.
The suit was initially brought by the L.A. Alliance and eight individual plaintiffs against the county and city of L.A., alleging they were moving too slowly to get people off the streets and into housing. The L.A. Alliance included current and formerly unhoused residents of Skid Row, business and property owners, and a real estate professional who had interests in the downtown neighborhood.
L.A. County, which is also a defendant in the case, is not part of the proposed settlement. The city said it will be working with L.A. Alliance to ensure the county is meeting its obligations that include, in part, providing wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in the city and increasing the number of mental health beds for inpatient treatment.
L.A. County applauded the news of the settlement in a statement. It expressed hope the deal provides relief to people experiencing homelessness and said it will continue to use its resources to equitably support unhoused people.
"Since voters passed Measure H in 2017, the County has housed more than 75,000 people experiencing homelessness and in the last three years has ramped up shelter capacity 60 percent," the statement said, adding the county "will spend a record $1 billion this year on programs to house even more people while providing mental health and other services to those in need."
Support for LAist comes from
Skip Miller, one of the county's outside lawyers in the case, said in a statement that the suit "has no merit with regard to the county. It is between the plaintiffs and the city, and we’re glad they settled. We intend to litigate and win this case.”
L.A. County attempted to free itself of the case in March 2021, filing a motion requesting Judge Carter dismiss the county from the suit. He denied that request in May 2021.
Carter is not unfamiliar with landmark homelessness lawsuits — in 2018, he supervised a case that forced 20 cities in Orange County to set up shelter and services for their unhoused residents.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
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.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist