Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass commended the County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval Tuesday of an emergency declaration on homelessness that was proposed by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath.
This follows Bass’ declaration of an emergency on homelessness on day one of her administration and the County Board of Supervisors subsequent unanimous vote in support of her declaration that was proposed by Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn.
“I want to thank Supervisor Horvath, Supervisor Barger and the entire Board of Supervisors for unanimously locking arms between the county and the city by declaring an emergency on homelessness crisis,” said Bass. “The people of Los Angeles deserve that we urgently and immediately take every possible action to bring unhoused Angelenos indoors, and this declaration will enable us to move faster and unlock every tool possible. I look forward to a continued and close working relationship with the board and the county as we confront this crisis together, head on.”
The County’s emergency declaration directs county departments to take necessary steps for the protection of life, health, and safety of people experiencing homelessness.
“This emergency proclamation boils down to cutting red tape,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “It’s the County’s job to provide the critical mental health, substance abuse treatment, and case management services that make a world of difference in helping people experiencing homelessness get off our streets and back on their feet. Our efforts have been persistently hampered by a lack of personnel and bureaucratic processes that slow down our ability to hire, fill positions, and contract for services. I am a proud co-author of this motion because we must continue battling homelessness with urgency and use all the tools at our disposal to do so.”
Bass’ emergency declaration gives her the power to lift rules and regulations that slow or prevent the building of permanent and temporary housing for the unhoused; to expedite contracts that prioritize bringing unhoused Angelenos inside; and to allow the city to acquire rooms, properties and land for housing for Angelenos in need.
