URGENT UPDATE: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has just announced a major victory in the fight against homelessness, successfully relocating 80 individuals from a long-standing encampment near Cotner Boulevard to secure housing. This initiative is part of the city’s ambitious Inside Safe program, aiming to tackle the urgent crisis of homelessness in the region.
The encampment, which had existed for nearly a decade, posed significant public health and safety risks for both its residents and the surrounding community. Mayor Bass emphasized the importance of this operation, stating, “My top priority has been the safety of Angelenos, and bringing unhoused Angelenos inside to return to safety and dignity is a key part of that goal.”
City crews have effectively cleaned the site, marking a turning point in the ongoing battle against homelessness. The Inside Safe program employs a unique, human-centric approach, with outreach teams spending extensive time building trust with individuals before transitioning them into housing. This method has proven successful, resulting in many who are homeless actively seeking assistance.
Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky praised the efforts, highlighting the need for ongoing collaboration to prevent the area from being repopulated. “The encampment along Cotner Boulevard posed ongoing public safety and health challenges for those living there and for the surrounding community,” she stated.
The dismantling of this encampment is just one of many successes under the Inside Safe initiative, which has now helped thousands of Angelenos find housing. Mayor Bass noted a significant decline in street homelessness over the past two years, showcasing the program’s effectiveness. Alongside this, the city is also working on creating over 30,000 affordable housing units and implementing an anti-eviction program to combat future homelessness.
Since declaring a state of emergency on homelessness on her first day in office, Mayor Bass has mobilized critical resources through initiatives like LA4LA, which focuses on building housing on city-owned land. This comprehensive approach is designed not only to address current homelessness but also to secure a sustainable future for the residents of Los Angeles.
As this situation continues to develop, the city remains committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all Angelenos. Stay tuned for more updates on this significant initiative and its impact on the community.
