HOMELESS OFF STREET SANCTUARY
Los Angeles currently has the largest population of unsheltered people in the United States. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the City of Los Angeles counted 35,550 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2019, an increase of 13.6% from 2018. Many of these individuals end up seeking shelter in streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public spaces that are not equipped for human habitation. As a result, individuals in these spaces often become vulnerable to issues relating to sanitation, public health, fire hazard, and public safety. As Los Angeles continues to face a worsening housing scarcity and unaffordability crisis, we must determine and implement policies that will help our neighbors avoid homelessness by providing adequate shelter and housing both in the immediate as well as permanently. This study provides a comprehensive list of potential sites for off-street homeless shelters in Los Angeles as well as an inventory of precedents from various cities that should be considered by local policymakers in addressing homelessness in our communities.