ONE BIG THING: FILLING EVERY BED IN CD13
The City has fewer than 400 interim housing/shelter beds for the over 3,000 people living on the streets in our district. We all agree that this is nowhere near enough. When we took office, we committed to housing as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
The Situation When We Took Office
To make matters worse, we had up to 58 empty beds on a given night when we took office. That means that nearly 15% of the beds in our district available for unhoused people were going completely unused on any given night.
But by shifting our approach to homelessness by prioritizing housing and services, our homelessness team was able to jump into action and fill the empty beds with folks who needed them.
What’s Happening Now?
Now, the interim housing/shelter bed capacity is at 100%, with dozens of folks in the queue, and even more who’ve accepted housing referrals. Once a bed opens up, our homelessness team is able to fill it immediately because they are on the ground everyday visiting every encampment in the district, coordinating service providers, and helping unhoused residents access housing and other assistance.
What’s Next?
Like we mentioned before, 400 beds for 3,000 unhoused people isn’t nearly enough. We’re approving and constructing a new tiny home village to add to that capacity, plus, we’re in the planning process for more interim housing options from tiny homes to buying/master leasing hotels in the district.
But temporary housing is just that – temporary. We need much more housing, especially affordable housing, in CD13 and across LA. To make that happen, we’ll be introducing a motion next week to upzone Hollywood's transit corridors, add affordable housing incentives, and make it easier to build affordable housing on public land.
We didn’t get into this crisis overnight, and it will likely take many years to fully reverse the decades of disinvestment and neglect that have led us here. But this problem isn't intractable. Through our tireless work and by leading with services and building more affordable housing, we can make sustainable change!
Two More Quick Hits!
1. City Council Adopts Resolution Supporting Writers Guild
Yesterday, on day 60 of the WGA strike, our resolution with Councilmember Yaroslavsky in support of the striking writers and urging the studios to return to the negotiating table passed unanimously in City Council.
This resolution sends a strong message to the studios that the City of LA stands behind these workers, marking a distinct contrast to the last writers strike, when political support for the striking workers was much more scarce.
2. A Lifeline for Street Vendors
This week, council approved a measure led by Councilmember Nithya Raman that would delay a huge fee increase facing street vendors while the city determines a fair fee schedule.
This will give relief to countless vendors working to provide for their families here in LA, and we’re eager to work on an equitable system that empowers these entrepreneurs so they can thrive in this city.
ONE LAST THING!
Do you have a pet in need of a microchip/tag? From now until July 9, LA Animal Services will microchip your pet for free!
Plus, if you don’t yet have a furry pal, you can now head into any LA Animal Services location without an appointment to find a new best friend!