Posted on 05/04/2016 7:06:02 PM PDT by Hojczyk
Homelessness increased in the last year in the city and county of Los Angeles, leaving nearly 47,000 people in the streets and shelters despite an intensive federal push that slashed the ranks of homeless veterans by nearly a third, according to figures released Wednesday by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
Nearly two-thirds of the homeless people tallied countywide, or 28,000, were in the city of Los Angeles, representing an 11% jump in January from a year earlier, a report from the agency stated. The county's homeless population grew 5.7%.
The mayor's proposed budget earmarks $138 million for services as a down payment on a $1.87-billion homeless housing construction drive spelled out in the plan the city adopted this year. The homeless authority received federal aid totaling a record $99 million this week.
“We can bring these numbers down,” Garcetti said. “This could be the year that we begin to turn the tide.”
The county has budgeted $150 million for homeless programs, but county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said, “If people think L.A. city or L.A. County can solve this, when all the economic forces are forcing people out of their houses, then think again.”
Critics said the city had ignored the severe housing shortage, as rents have soared and widespread gentrification has driven low-income people from their homes.
“The housing crisis for the very poor has only intensified, and the city has done nothing to address it,” said retired UCLA law professor Gary Blasi, who has studied homelessness for decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Darn that Bush.
Are they leaving Denver and Colorado Springs?
Lots of “recent international arrivals” on skid row last time I was through that part of L.A.
How about sending the 70% back to the States or countries they came from.
We don’t need a bunch of illegals or refugees to support if we cannot support our own.
Really surprised there’s a report on homelessness in a dem city within a dem state during a dem administration.
Not surprised it’s happening, only surprised it’s being reported on.
Portland, Oregon’s biggest political issue is how to deal with homeless tents all over the city. Huge increase over prior years.
They’re taking it out for a test run in the event there’s a regime change.
SUMMER
[The county has budgeted $150 million for homeless programs, but county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said, “If people think L.A. city or L.A. County can solve this, when all the economic forces are forcing people out of their houses, then think again.”]
Wow, a sane person who recognizes the economic disaster upon us.
O should be sent back to Indonesia. Where he came from after his own mother didn’t want him anymore.
Eff’in tax n spend, addle-brained LA liberals and their if-you-build-it-they-will-come problems.
FYI: LA plans on spending 1.8 BILLION (180 Million / yr) dollars over the next ten years on housing for the Homeless!
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-city-county-homeless-plans-20160208-story.html
Ha...28,000 homeless and an initial budget of 138million,,,,about $5K each....give em one way tickets to a destination of their choice.
There are a number of huge vacant lots and abandoned buildings around here that could be developed. The only developers that are willing to purchase the properties are housing developers. The cities, on the other hand, only want sales tax generating businesses. And the citizens want anything but more housing with more traffic.
Even mixed use is nixed if there is too much housing in the mix.
There are cities that have rejected free federal money because they don't want to use it to build more housing ... especially section eight housing. The feds are trying to sue these cities to force them to take the money.
I don't see any solution for years or decades to come.
Panhandlers too. I mean, they are everywhere now. It’s like a zombie apocalypse. But since Obama’s president, the media has been reluctant to talk about it. After all, this is only supposed to happen when a Republican is president.
As opposed to indoor tents?
Wow, 47 thousand. That’s a large number
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