(LOS ANGELES) LA City Council approved $1.2 million in funding in December 2021 for local District 4’s program aimed at placing some of the district’s critically homeless residents into permanent housing.
Councilmember Nithya Raman of District 4, filed the motion to fund the program, known as the Encampment to Home Program, which is inspired in part by the ongoing efforts by the CD4 Homelessness Team and a location-based outreach and housing operation which took place in Venice in 2021.
“The City showed a significant commitment to solving our homelessness crisis in this most recent budget, which included $80 million in the General City Purposes Fund for Homeless Services,” said Raman in a recent statement. “Dedicating a small fraction of these funds to this program will allow us to scale up a compassionate approach to addressing street homelessness that has proven to be successful and sustainable.”
The program will focus efforts on Hollywood and Los Feliz.
The operation will be conducted in partnership with The People Concern, a Los Angeles County social services agency that provides homeless services.
“The People Concern is looking forward to building on the success of our other Encampment to Home projects to link vulnerable neighbors in CD4 with services and housing as quickly as possible,” said John Maceri, CEO of the People Concern in a statement. “Our multidisciplinary outreach teams will continue to build trust and use intensive engagement to empower people to make informed choices and connect them with best-fit housing that meets their needs. We are looking forward to partnering with CD4 on implementing strategies that reduce street homelessness, uplift the importance of long-term housing solutions, and improve the quality of life for all.”
- The motion also requests a report back to the Council on the outcome of the project which will establish a baseline to track future performance of the operation.
- The CD4 Homelessness Team is expected to deliver an official strategy and deployment timeline.
- The report will also identify permanent housing options for participants in the program.
