23% REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS IN 13TH DISTRICT: COUNCILMEMBER MITCH O’FARRELL STATEMENT ON LAHSA COUNT

Though citywide homelessness is up 2%, 13th District leads most areas with significant reduction

“I am encouraged that homelessness is down significantly in my district. Though we still have work to do across Los Angeles, and though the size of encampments grew due to pandemic protocols, our success in reducing homelessness by 23% in the 13th District since 2020 proves that our comprehensive approach works. We’re building more affordable and supportive housing than almost anywhere in the city. We have more interim housing than most areas. We’ve invested in supplemental outreach services. We’ve put in place robust tenant protections and created rental relief. We’ve converted existing building stock into housing, and are even building affordable housing on what used to be a City-owned surface parking lot. On top of that, we’ve pioneered the City’s first-ever model of unarmed crisis response, diverting non-violent calls regarding homelessness away from police and to service providers instead. That approach has been so successful that we’re now working on taking it citywide. I want to thank every service provider, every outreach worker, every volunteer, and every thoughtful, caring Angeleno who’s stepped forward to be part of our collective solution. The city still has a way to go. But our approach in the 13th District works, and the numbers prove it. Let’s replicate this across Los Angeles.” —Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell