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Year-round emergency climate shelters could be coming to LA County
Downtown Los Angeles in early September as Southern California coped with a heat wave.
(
Etienne Laurent
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Unhoused residents in L.A. County could soon have access to year-round emergency climate shelters.
Why now: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a motion earlier this week to expand and transform the seasonal shelters to protect people from extreme weather conditions, like wildfires and heat waves, 24/7.
Why it matters: “The vision behind these climate shelters is straightforward — provide our most vulnerable populations a safe place to find relief from the increasingly harsh weather conditions our county is facing,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who introduced the motion.
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The backstory: L.A. County currently offers cooling centers during extreme heat waves and temporary emergency shelters during the winter.
What's next: County officials have been directed to report back in 90 days to find funding for at least one emergency shelter in each of the eight Service Planning Areas. They’ve also been asked to identify sites or spaces, such as unused parking lots, that could house an emergency shelter on public or private land.
Read more … to learn more about how some unhoused people deal with extreme heat.
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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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