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LA homelessness: City, county invite public to comment on plans of attack
Homeless women prepare for another day and night on the street near Skid Row.
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LA homelessness: City, county invite public to comment on plans of attack
Armed with plans to end homelessness in Los Angeles, the city and county will solicit the public's input during meetings this week.
When it comes to homelessness, the city and county have been in lock-step in recent months. Officials from both levels of government have been meeting regularly since October over how to find more housing, jobs and services for homeless people.
"We are at crisis proportions now," said Councilmember Marqueese Harris-Dawson, who co-chairs the city's Committee on Homelessness and Poverty. "I actually think we are at the edge of the abyss on homelessness."
A new city report found that L.A.'s homelessness crisis is at such dire levels that the city would need to spend nearly $1.9 billion over the next 10 years to properly address the problem.
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There’s so much public interest in dealing with the homelessness issue that the county’s meeting at the United Way building in downtown Los Angeles is already at the 500-person capacity. Those who want to attend must get on a wait list.
Phil Ansell, who oversees homeless initiatives for the county, estimated that half of the attendees will be homeless service providers and advocates who helped the county shaped its plan. He expects the other half will be members of the general public.
"The level of engagement exemplifies the passion and compassion around homelessness that is pervasive through out L.A. County," Ansell said.
Those who can't make the county meeting or the meeting at City Hall can follow online. Public comment can also be sent electronically.
Officials with both the city and county say they expect to finalize their respective plans in February.
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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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