To the editor: I used to be shocked to study Mayor Karen Bass’ withdrawal of the state of emergency associated to homelessness (“Mayor Bass lifts state of emergency on homelessness. However ‘the disaster stays,’” Nov. 4). Important existential threats to sustaining our progress in reductions are moments from realization.
L.A. County stands to lose hundreds of housing vouchers over the following two years. The funding for greater than 6,000 pandemic-era emergency vouchers will expire in 2026. Hundreds extra vouchers will likely be misplaced to Division of Housing and City Improvement coverage modifications that reject a long time of researched finest practices.
Additional, the county faces a $300-million shortfall for homeless companies subsequent fiscal yr stemming primarily from decreased tax revenues and the cessation of time-limited state funding. Town’s funds continues to be precariously perched.
The federal authorities is shut down and all of the individuals who depend on SNAP to make ends meet are having much more bother doing so, all whereas looming modifications to Medicaid stand to strip hundreds of Angelenos of healthcare protection subsequent yr.
Emergency or not, fixing homelessness takes assets and we’re shedding some huge ones proper now. I hope to see extra protection of those threats in The Los Angeles Occasions, as I consider the article in regards to the emergency declaration might have benefited from this context.
Robert Morrison, Los Angeles
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To the editor: The mayor is just not fallacious — there was progress on homelessness, particularly in Hollywood, the place years of coordinated work have decreased unsheltered homelessness by half.
Hollywood has actually benefited from the mayor’s Inside Protected initiative and the county’s Hollywood 2.0 program. But when we wish to preserve transferring ahead, we should perceive precisely how and why this progress has occurred. Our momentum can’t lull us into pondering the issue is solved.
The following few years have to be about doing extra of what works and fewer of what doesn’t — and that requires a clear-eyed have a look at what’s pushed enchancment earlier than we act prefer it’s all sorted.
We’d like assets and insurance policies that reinforce neighborhood-level collaboration, together with clear information and progress monitoring to information technique.
The lead-up to the Olympics is an important window to maintain techniques transferring towards inexpensive housing, livability and dignity — not towards last-minute “clean-ups” that merely cover seen homelessness.
If we keep aligned, targeted and grounded in what works, we are going to preserve transferring ahead, collectively.
Brittney Weissman, Los Angeles
This author is govt director of the Hollywood 4WRD Homelessness Coalition.
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To the editor: Los Angeles is correct to have fun the 2 years of reported decline in homelessness. Nonetheless, The Occasions has additionally reported that Rand discovered L.A.’s annual rely is lacking individuals who sleep with out tents or automobiles. These persons are the toughest to achieve. If that inhabitants from Los Angeles isn’t being counted, the “decline” is smaller than it seems to be and companies could also be redirected.
At any time when Metropolis Corridor cites progress, the general public also needs to see a second quantity: how many individuals have been probably missed, and by which neighborhoods. This transparency is vital and related as a result of outreach groups and neighborhood organizations are those who want to concentrate on the folks they don’t seem to be reaching.
We will’t say the emergency is over for individuals who by no means made it into the info.
Kendall Lyons, Los Angeles
