Homelessness remains a top concern that Californians want to be addressed, but a bill that would have mandated encampments be cleared in front of public areas like schools, parks, libraries, and daycare centers stalled in the Senate Public Safety Committee March 28. Senate Bill 31—authored by Sen. Brian Jones (R-San Diego)—would make sitting, lying, sleeping,…

Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced a homeless encampment cleanup in Venice Jan. 4 amid California’s stormy weather. Bass said she and Park, who represents the Westside, conducted outreach with homeless individuals in the area that morning. Sanitation trucks could be seen in the neighborhood cleaning up trash and…

Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced a homeless encampment cleanup in Venice Jan. 4 amid California’s stormy weather. Bass said she and Park, who represents the Westside, conducted outreach with homeless individuals in the area that morning. Sanitation trucks could be seen in the neighborhood cleaning up trash and…

LOS ANGELES—Splatters of blood and fake $100 bills were visible on the left aisle of the Los Angeles City Council chamber Aug. 9 afternoon, remnants from another raucous meeting that started with protesters voicing displeasure at an ordinance to ban homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers and ended with one arrest,…

PARAMOUNT, Calif.—The search was continuing on April 29 for the parents of a boy who was found in a Paramount homeless encampment. The boy, whose name is possibly Anthony, was found about 10 a.m. on April 28 with a man at the encampment located at the Los Angeles River near the Long Beach (710) and…

LOS ANGELES—Several Los Angeles city councilors moved to ban recreational vehicles (RVs) from 24-hour parking on certain streets amid resident complaints that RV encampments have become hot spots for crime. On March 11, the LA City Council unanimously approved four resolutions to ban RVs over six feet tall from parking along certain streets in Districts…

LOS ANGELES—Several Los Angeles city councilors moved to ban recreational vehicles (RVs) from 24-hour parking on certain streets amid resident complaints that RV encampments have become hot spots for crime. On March 11, the LA City Council unanimously approved four resolutions to ban RVs over six feet tall from parking along certain streets in Districts…

COSTA MESA, Calif.—Gov. Gavin Newsom allocated $3.6 million to Orange County on Feb. 24 to tackle a homeless encampment in a Costa Mesa park. Talbert Park has an encampment with about 130 homeless individuals, according to county Supervisor Lisa Bartlett. The allocated funds aim to clear the encampments and connect the homeless population with shelters…

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Los Angeles city officials are pushing to expand affordable housing projects amid a homelessness crisis gripping the state’s neighborhoods and coastal towns, but some of them are being countered with lawsuits and outcries from residents who say affordable housing will only attract more homeless. A handful of Venice Beach residents called into a…

SAN DIEGO—Mayor Todd Gloria announced Jan. 31 the city will conduct a cleanup operation on a homeless encampment along Sports Arena Boulevard. The announcement came after what Gloria described as a “concentrated” effort to connect the people camping along the road to shelter and social services. Advance notice of the cleanup was posted along Sports…