To the editor: Doug Smith’s article exposes a tough fact: Regardless of report spending, Los Angeles continues to battle with seen homelessness (“The L.A. homeless rely misses individuals who aren’t in tents or automobiles, a brand new Rand research finds,” Oct. 16).
Mayor Karen Bass campaigned on a promise to deal with homelessness as an emergency, pledging to deliver tens of 1000’s indoors, reduce purple tape and construct housing sooner. However, regardless of the $1.3 billion allotted towards the problem, the outcomes fall far wanting her guarantees. Even the Rand research cited within the article reveals the annual homeless rely misses many “tough sleepers” — folks with out tents or automobiles who reside fully uncovered. If the rely underreports, we’re congratulating ourselves on paper whereas the disaster deepens in actual life.
Throughout Los Angeles, residents see little seen change. I work in an space the place this disconnect is painfully clear. The constructing subsequent door to my workplace, as soon as a small motel and restaurant, was just lately transformed right into a homeless shelter, immediately throughout the road from a highschool. It was carried out with out the enter of fogeys and enterprise house owners. Now, the encompassing sidewalks are lined with folks sleeping open air — precisely what these applications had been meant to stop.
The Inside Secure strategy, whereas well-intentioned, has largely relied on short-term motel stays as a substitute of making lasting housing. Many people cycle again to the streets after a couple of weeks as a result of there’s no follow-up assist or everlasting placement.
Mayor Bass deserves credit score for focusing consideration and funding on homelessness, however the outcomes present a system that spends massively whereas managing, not fixing, the disaster. If we really wish to scale back homelessness — not simply relocate it — town should implement its personal zoning legal guidelines, monitor spending rigorously and prioritize actual housing options over momentary fixes.
Hua Gu, Calabasas
