Members of the Los Angeles City Council declared a state of emergency on homelessness Tuesday and pledged to commit $100 million to combat what it says has become a dire problem for the city. Tuesday’s declaration follows recent figures that show a 12 percent jump in homelessness since 2013. The impact can be felt by any Angeleno who walks the city’s streets and underpasses, which are flooded a growing number of encampments night and day.
Mayor Eric Garcetti praised the council for its decision. Tuesday’s declaration coincides with a proposal issued by Garcetti Monday freeing up some $13 million for short-term housing initiatives.
"We all understand the urgency that this situation requires, and what is at stake," Garcetti said. "I applaud the Los Angeles City Council for their action today in earmarking a necessary initial investment that helps launch my comprehensive plan to tackle homelessness."
Despite the bold announcement, some homeless advocates have said the commitment doesn’t go far enough.
“100 million is nothing,” said Alice Callaghan, who runs a school near skid row. “If you want to end homelessness, you have to commit yourself to a housing program.” Joel John Roberts, who heads the homeless nonprofit Path Partners, also said it would take billions to solve the problem. While city officials acknowledged the need to solidify the plan’s details, they say the declaration was an important first step both symbolically and substantively.
There is also some question over the degree to which the city’s Olympics bid influenced the vote Tuesday. Council Member Gil Cedillo may have tipped his hand to the real motivation in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“If we want to be a great city that hosts the Olympics and shows itself off to the world, we shouldn’t have 25,000 to 50,000 people sleeping on the streets,” Cedillo said.
Can’t argue with that.
Read more about Tuesday’s declaration here.
Image Credit: Flickr User neontommy, https://flic.kr/p/hUhLvC via (CC BY-SA 2.0)