With a newly elected Mayor, the City of Angels finds itself in one of the most troubling predicaments in its 200-year history. Los Angeles’, the second most populous city in the United States, is by far the city with the biggest homeless population at 42,000. The number of homeless citizens in Los Angeles has increased in the past decade with the percentage increasing at an alarming rate every year.
The homeless problem in Los Angeles is not a new or pre-existing problem, but rather a permanent societal problem that has always been a part of the city’s founding incorporation. As far back as the 19th Century, the homeless population was prevalent in the make-up of the city’s social structure. In 1847, the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, giving way to the United States with the end of the Mexican-American War. By 1875, the completion of the transcontinental Southern Pacific railroad began the formation of the city of Los Angeles. Settlers from all over the country made their way to California in search of prosperity. With the influx in population, the city grew; however, the logistics of housing the mass population was void.
Mayor-elect Karen Bass, a six-term congresswoman, knows the challenges that await her. When Mayor-elect Karen Bass assumes office on December 12, 2022, she knows she must hit the ground running. Giving credit to her campaign promise, Mayor-elect Bass and her administration will immediately turn their attention to the homeless crisis in the city. Mayor-elect Bass is the first ever woman to be Mayor of Los Angeles and only the second African-American to hold the role as Mayor. Mayor-elect Karen Bass promised to place priority on the city’s response to legislation of projects receiving funding to aid in the solution will be paramount in combating homelessness.
Under Proposition HHH, a 2016 piece of legislation, the City of Los Angeles was approved to build 10,000 housing units within a ten-year period for those homeless or at risk of. With six years in, only 3400+ homes have been built, with 5,400 under construction. Mayor-elect Karen Bass‘ plan for her first year in office is to house 15,000 people in temporary and permanent housing. By providing housing, Mayor-elect Bass feels that her administration can focus on the mental health and substance abuse problems which inflict many in the city. From Sunset Blvd., to Venice Beach and Santa Monica, the sidewalks are lined up with tents and people residing on the streets. In downtown Los Angeles and the hardest hit Skid Row neighborhoods, housing courts have been replaced with what looks like a war zone.
Hope is on the horizon. With endorsement from highly regarded Democrats, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, Mayor-elect Bass has the political power to move legislation that has been at a pause. With the city of Los Angeles seeing a 2% increase in homelessness since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the time to act is now. The Hispanic/Latino community has been the hardest hit with the homeless population rising to nearly 45%. The percentage for homeless African-Americans nearly doubled since 2020.
“I ran for mayor to urgently confront the crises our hometown faces,” “Tonight, 40,000 Angelenos will sleep without a home — and 5 will not wake up.
“To the people of Los Angeles, my message is this: We are going to solve homelessness,” “Los Angeles is no longer going to be unaffordable for working families — good jobs and affordable housing construction are on the way.”
Mayor-elect Karen Bass
Investing in healthcare prevents homelessness.
Investing in substance abuse treatment prevents homelessness.
Investing in mental health services prevents homelessness.
