Watch CBS News

Venice Handball Courts Cleared Of Homeless Encampment After Major Complaints

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – In response to numerous complaints, a homeless encampment was removed from an oceanfront handball court in Venice this week.

Venice Handball Courts Cleared Of Homeless Encampment After Major Complaints
Los Angeles city crews clean the handball courts in Venice after clearing them off homeless camps. April 15, 2021. (CBSLA)

Handball players had complained that the homeless camp had taken over their courts, located in the 1800 block of Ocean Front Walk.

The players presented a petition to the city with more than 2,000 signatures demanding that the courts be cleared.

The city of Los Angeles consented. On Thursday, city crews fenced off the area and began to clean the courts.

The homeless crisis has grown into a major issue for the city of L.A. over the past few years, a situation which has been heightened by the struggles brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

In late March, dozens of people were arrested during protests against the removal of a large-scale homeless encampment at Echo Park Lake and the park's indefinite closure to clean up an estimated $500,000 in damage.

This week, residents in Reseda expressed their anger over a community of about 50 tiny homes which are being built in their neighborhood to house the homeless.

Earlier this month, an L.A. city councilman asked the city to examine whether it can install temporary housing for the homeless in several coastal communities, including Pacific Palisades and Venice. Nearly 15,000 people have signed a petition opposing the idea.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.