Judge Presses Pause on Controversial Skid Row Housing Order

A 60-day grace period and some additional contingencies have been added to a court order for the city and county of Los Angeles to provide shelter or housing to the thousands of people experiencing homelessness on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles.

1 minute read

April 28, 2021, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


California Homeless

Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock

"A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit over homelessness in Los Angeles says in a new court order that he will give the city 60 days to detail how its planned $1 billion in funding for homelessness will be spent," reports Dakota Smith.

The news comes less than a week after the judge ordered the city and county of Los Angeles to offer shelter and housing to the more than 4,600 people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles.

"Judge David O. Carter, in a preliminary injunction last week, ordered the city to put $1 billion in an escrow account , with the money to be used for homelessness," writes Smith to explain some of the details of the order. More details on the substance of the 60-day delay are found in the source article below.

As reported by Benjamin Oreskes and Emily Alpert Reyes on April 23, the city and county of Los Angeles asked for the order to stayed.

On April 25, Oreskes reported on the growing resistance to the judge's order: "Critics, including the Los Angeles Community Action Network, have argued that the tight timelines in the order would propel spending on temporary shelter rather than long-standing housing, failing to address the underlying problem."

Monday, April 26, 2021 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Banner welcoming Polish transit hub project at convention center in Berlin.

Poland Building £25B Transit Hub

The mega project will include an airport and links to high-speed rail lines.

6 seconds ago - Express

Close-up on e-scooters parked in painted designated parking area on city street.

E-Scooter Parking: A Guide

How smart planning — and ample designated parking — can end conflicts over shared scooters.

May 14 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Bozeman, Montana with mountains in background.

‘It’s Been 50 years’: Public Transit Law Passes in Montana

Legislation would fix transportation district issue, allow for greater reach on city bus routes.

May 14 - Daily Montanan