Homeless Encampment Clean-up & Outreach in Venice

City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works sanitation workers in white hazardous materials suits, with Action Cleanup Environmental Services, clean-up homeless encampments at Flower Avenue in Venice on Thursday, January 12, 2023. LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) and Saint Joseph Center provided homeless outreach by providing hotel vouchers to the unhoused. Los Angeles Police Officers were onsite providing security during the cleanup. Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced last week that the Mayor’s new Inside Safe initiative is underway in Venice. Outreach has begun to people living in encampments surrounding the A Bridge Home site at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Pacific Avenue, and people have already accepted housing. Inside Safe is a new, citywide, proactive housing-led strategy to bring people inside from tents and encampments for good, and to prevent encampments from returning. “I’m proud to be locking arms with Councilwoman Park to change the way we approach homelessness in Los Angeles to bring people inside in a strategic and lasting way,” said Mayor Bass. “Councilwoman Park and I spent yesterday morning conducting outreach with encampment residents and meeting with service providers and local residents about how Inside Safe replaces quick fixes with real solutions. It’s important that the policy solutions developed are informed by the people most directly affected. Through Inside Safe, we will save lives and restore our neighborhoods.” "During my campaign, I pledged to pursue a comprehensive approach to working with service providers and city leaders to compassionately get encampments like those surrounding the bridge home the support they need," said Councilwoman Park. "This initiative is to show that the Government can be a place to heal. We don't just want to say it; we want to show it. Putting people in rooms without the care they need doesn't work. We need to ensure that they have adequate access to services they need including mental health, trauma, and substance use services for the unhoused." "This intensive housing intervention will help some of our most vulnerable unhoused neighbors get off the street for good and the support of Mayor Bass, Councilwoman Park and City and County elected leaders is vital to our success," said Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum of Saint Joseph Center. Inside Safe is assessing street homelessness across Los Angeles and proactively engages with people living in tents and encampments based on which locations are most chronic and where people are most in crisis. Inside Safe is housing based – people are offered immediate quality housing and a commitment of services and permanent housing so they can stay inside safe for good. The vast majority of people living on the street say “yes” to real offers of housing and support. Mayor Bass’ Inside Safe Executive Directive calls for the Inside Safe Action Plan to be developed by March 31, 2023. Inside Safe will support the following five goals: Reduce the loss of life on our streets Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for those living in encampments Eliminate street encampments Promote long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness Enhance the safety and hygiene of neighborhoods for all residents, businesses, and neighbors This initiative will support and advance the following citywide outcomes: Decrease the number and size of encampments across the city Decrease the time of moving someone from an encampment into housing Increase interim and permanent housing placements Increase access to mental health care and substance use treatment for people experiencing homelessness Read the Inside Safe Executive Directive here. Inside Safe initially launched in Hollywood in partnership with Councilmember Nithya Raman at encampments near Cahuenga and the 101 freeway. Mayor Bass is moving Los Angeles forward with an urgent and strategic approach to addressing the homelessness crisis, which also includes her Emergency Declaration on Homelessness, activating the City’s Emergency Operations Center, and issuing an Executive Directive to dramatically accelerate and lower the cost of affordable and temporary housing. Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Support Santa Monica Closeup by making a One Time Donation via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabia... or via Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseu...