More Shelters Opened In Los Angeles To House Homeless From Rain
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority will open the last three of its seven new temporary shelters to thousands of people seeking refuge from the first El Niño storm of the year.
Most of the authority's winter shelters, which are located in seven geographical "service planning areas" throughout the county, opened in November and December. About 16 shelters are open are any given time, with some open on a rotating basis among churches, with beds for about 2,000 people.
The additional seven locations will be able to temporarily house another 1,131 people. Four of these shelters opened Monday night, while three more will open Tuesday night. Information on locations and transportation to reach them is available at www.lahsa.org or by calling 211.
The additional shelters are located in county-owned gymnasiums.
Sheriff's and Housing Authority officials have been reaching out to homeless people living in riverbeds and flood-control channels to warn them about the impending rain and encouraging them to take advantage of the shelters, according to the authority.
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