Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, council unite on city’s widespread homeless problem: ‘new direction’

The angels city ​​leaders on Tuesday unanimously ratified the homeless emergency declared by Karen Bass in her first official act as mayor.

The City Council approved the measure on a 13-0 vote. The the declaration is intended to last for six months as the city continues to grapple with homelessness and decisions about how to house people living on the streets.

“My mandate is to move Los Angeles in a new direction with an urgent and strategic approach to solving one of our city’s toughest challenges and creating a brighter future for every Angeleno,” Bass said, Fox Los Angeles reported.

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The declaration will allow Bass to take a more aggressive approach to combating homelessness. The council would have to sign off on the measure every 30 days.

Bass said he plans to announce a program called Inside Safe in the coming days that will cost less than $100 million and allow the use of master leases with motels for a home for the homelessthe report says.

The declaration would allow the city to make better use of city-owned land and speed up approvals for affordable housing, which many advocates say is sorely lacking in Los Angeles County.

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A homeless encampment is seen on a bridge over the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. City leaders approved a state of emergency for the homeless on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Across the city of Los Angeles, there are nearly 42,000 people classified as homeless, according to data released in September by the Los Angeles Office of Homeless Services counting the moment. This figure is up 1.7% on the number in 2020. The 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Hark Dietz, CEO of People Assisting The Homeless, said Bass was right to declare a state of emergency.

“The city’s approach to homelessness has become more fragmented and politicized, and this emergency could use the power of the executive branch to make sustainable improvements to our service system and dramatically increase the production of desperately needed housing,” Dietz said in a statement .

The Committee for Greater Los Angeles, a group of civic leaders, said it also agreed with Bass’ move.

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“Unprecedented actions like those in Mayor Bass’ plan are needed to significantly improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness and remove the barriers they face to securing housing,” said a statement from the group’s chairman, Miguel Santana and Sarah Dussault, Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Action Team Group.