MOTION -- As of June 3, 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been attributed to 57,118 documented cases and 2,443 deaths in Los Angeles County. The pandemic and subsequent emergency orders, such as California's Stay-At-Home Order, have placed an unprecedented strain on the welfare and resources of residents and governmental bodies. Of particular concern during this crisis is the City's vulnerable population of persons experiencing homelessness. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported 36,165 homeless individuals in the City of Los Angeles in their 2019 Homeless Count. This group, and especially the older adults and those with preexisting health conditions, face additional challenges in preventing the spread of COVID-19 as they are more susceptible to the dangerous symptoms of the disease and have no home in which to shelter in place.
The State, County, and City have taken strong action to prevent COVID-19 from devastating this population. On March 18, 2020, Governor Newsom announced that the State would purchase 1,300 trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to shelter the homeless. The City of Los Angeles also took action on March 18 to transition 20 recreation centers into emergency shelters. Combined these sites have housed approximately 1,000 homeless individuals.
Additionally, on April 3, Governor Newsom, in a partnership with FEMA, launched Project Room key, an initiative to secure 15,000 hotel and motel rooms throughout the State for isolating the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. Subsequent to this announcement, the County announced its own goal of procuring an additional 15,000 hotel rooms to house homeless individuals. Currently, Project Room key has housed approximately 3,500 individuals experiencing homelessness.
As the State takes steps toward relaxing emergency measures, the City must develop a plan to coordinate the efforts of City departments to provide essential resources to our current homeless population, prevent and respond to future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other diseases, and ensure that the crisis does not lead to a new wave of residents becoming homeless. The City should work alongside the County's and LAHSAs current efforts to immediately develop a plan to ensure these vulnerable homeless residents have safe housing to transition into and do not end up back on the street after the immediate threat from the pandemic has subsided. The services and housing temporarily provided to homeless individuals during the pandemic must continue as the economy reopens, with options for temporary, bridge and permanent housing and supportive services after the Local Emergency Declaration has ended. This COVID-19Homelessness Recovery Roadmap should have a particular focus on providing housing for everyone age 65 and above during and after the pandemic situation.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, in collaboration with the City's Homeless Coordinator, the Chief Legislative Analyst, and the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, and philanthropy to develop a COVID-19 Homelessness Recovery Roadmap that would coordinate City and County departments and resources to provide essential services and housing to the homeless population, prevent and respond to future outbreaks of disease, and prevent residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis from becoming homeless, with a particular focus on housing all residents over the age of 65.
I FURTHER MOVE that the City Council instruct the City Administrative Officer to identify existing resources, including the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund, to support the COVID-19Homelessness Recovery Roadmap.