LOS ANGELES - City and County leaders just voted to approve a comprehensive strategy to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.The city's $1.85 billion plan to address homelessness will focus on subsidized housing and coordinated programs over the next decade to get LA's more than 25,000 homeless individuals off the streets.
Some of the guiding principles of the homelessness strategy include adopting a "no wrong door" approach to improve the city's interactions with homeless people -- from police officers to librarians -- to empower city employees with the tools, relationships, and resources necessary to connect people in need to services and housing; continuing to expand, improve and use the Coordinated Entry System as a core process that matches homeless people with vital resources; ensuring that services and housing are provided in all LA communities with long-term and short-term solutions; and much more. Councilmember Krekorian voted to support the strategy.
The county plan calls for spending $150 million over the next two years to reduce homelessness. It also incorporates dozens of strategies, including subsidizing housing, working on creating jobs and raising pay for those at risk of homelessness, and coordinating programs for helping people with prison records, mental health or drug-abuse problems.
Posted on 02/12/2016