LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today housed nearly 80 Angelenos from a major encampment through her signature Inside Safe program. Spanning several blocks adjacent to the 405 Freeway, this encampment that existed for almost a decade, presented a longstanding crisis that had become a critical safety and public health threat for the people living there and for the surrounding community and businesses. Former residents received secure housing and lifesaving medical services through Inside Safe. City crews have safely cleared the area. B-roll is available here.
Inside Safe’s success lies in its deliberate and compassionate approach. The team doesn’t show up at random encampments – they carefully assess each site through multiple visits that can span days, weeks or even months. This allows the team to build real relationships grounded in trust. So when the time comes to offer them interim housing, people know it is a genuine opportunity. These are not abstract policy wins – they’re lives being saved.
The success of the program is now creating something unprecedented in the city. On days when the Inside Safe team is actively housing people, they’re getting walk-ups. People living on the street are coming forward, asking for help. That does not happen by accident. It happens because word spreads when you’re actually helping people.
“My top priority has been the safety of Angelenos, and bringing unhoused Angelenos inside to return to safety and dignity is a key part of that goal,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Street homelessness has declined two years in a row, and today was another major step forward. We must continue our urgent work to tackle homelessness, advance community safety, and build trusted relationships with all of our communities.”
“The encampment along Cotner Boulevard posed ongoing public safety and health challenges for those living there and for the surrounding community,” said Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsksy. “I’m grateful to Mayor Bass, her team, and our City departments for their partnership in bringing people indoors and restoring safety to the area. My office will continue working closely with our partners to prevent the site from being repopulated and to keep it safe for those who live and work nearby.”
Nothing like Inside Safe has been tried in this city before. And despite what the skeptics said, it’s working. This is the 114th operation and thousands of Angelenos have come inside. Inside Safe continues to monitor cleared sites so new encampments don’t form. When communities are clear and safe, first responders can do their jobs better, and residents can feel secure in their neighborhoods.
Mayor Bass’ work to address the humanitarian crisis has produced real results for Angelenos.
Since she declared a state of emergency on homelessness on her first day in office, Los Angeles has seen a consecutive two-year decline in homelessness – a first for Los Angeles. The Mayor’s Inside Safe program has conducted over 100 encampment resolutions across the city, helping bring inside thousands in the process. This comprehensive approach to homelessness also focuses on preventing Angelenos from falling into homelessness in the first place. Mayor Bass has taken the following actions to continue supporting Angelenos:
Accelerating the building of more than 30,000 affordable housing units.
Implementing a research-proven anti-eviction program through the Mayor’s Fund, preventing Angelenos from falling into homelessness.
Advancing innovative housing solutions through LA4LA, expanding the ability to build housing on City land.