LA City Council To Declare Shelter Crisis For Easier Temporary Housing Of Homeless

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday to declare a shelter crisis to make it easier to open up buildings and parking lots to temporarily house the city's homeless, estimated to number about 26,000.

The declaration must still be drafted by the City Attorney for final approval by the City Council.

A program to identify and open up shelters and parking lot space would also need to be developed, with city officials expected to report back on the legal framework.

Under state law, the city can declare a shelter crisis to more easily provide beds and put roofs over those who would otherwise be living on the streets.

However, the city has limited itself by adopting a law that restricts the declaration of a shelter crisis to the winter months, even though the state law does not restrict the allowable duration of the crisis.

Councilman Joe Buscaino took to social media in support of the vote, which he hopes will "lead towards a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness in Los Angeles."

"Our objective is to achieve a balance between the health and safety of our community and the rights and needs of the homeless," said Buscaino. "We can all agree that no one should have to live next to a homeless encampment or in a homeless encampment."

During a hearing prior to the vote, police told the City Council gang members have been co-opting encampments and tents around the city, while one local fire station noted a sharp jump in aggravated and sexual assaults near the encampment areas.

An ordinance would need to be drafted to allow the shelter crisis to be declared for the year-round homelessness problem.

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