LA Proposal Would Forcibly Remove Unhoused People Near Olympic Venues

Los Angeles County officials issued a report to local governments outlining how they can clear people from encampments near Olympic sports venues, reports Libby Rainey for LAist. While the report refers to placing people in temporary housing, it also “notes that there are concerns there won’t be enough beds and there’s no new funding for such an effort.”

Like other cities in advance of international sporting events, Los Angeles is hoping to reduce visible signs of homelessness. LA28, the organization planning the Olympics, says it is establishing ‘security perimeters’ “to identify and coordinate with host jurisdictions to prioritize encampments that may be affected.” According to Shayla Myers of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, “It is about taking resources to clear encampments in the most visible locations when you have cameras and tourists all putting their focus on Los Angeles.”

But “The county’s guidance points out that additional resources for plans to clear encampments at this point don’t exist. And Kassenbrock, the [county] spokesperson, said in a follow up email that the region faces ‘a significant deficit for homelessness and housing programs next fiscal year due to losses in federal, state, and other one-time funding, and cost increases.’” City of Long Beach officials told the county that it would likely be difficult to find motel rooms to use as interim housing during an event like the Olympics.