LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilwoman Traci Park, Mayor Albert Vera of Culver City and Los Angeles County leadership announced the newest Inside Safe operation, which concluded yesterday in Mar Vista near the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Globe Avenue under the 405 Freeway. Inside Safe is an initiative that was launched to house Angelenos living in encampments and to prevent encampments from returning. More than 50 Angelenos were brought inside through this operation. This citywide, voluntary approach leads with housing and services and is one feature in a comprehensive strategy to confront the homelessness crisis.
“Inside Safe is reaching all areas of Los Angeles, and we will continue to hit the ground running with this program in our efforts to house more Angelenos and change lives,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “I want to thank Councilmembers Yaroslavsky and Park, as well as Mayor Albert Vera of Culver City, and of course our County Partners and Supervisor Horvath for their ongoing partnership in our efforts to house and serve the people of Los Angeles.”
“Our homelessness crisis requires regional collaboration, and that’s what today was all about,” said Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky. “I am deeply grateful to all the partners who helped bring dozens of people off the street today, including Mayor Bass, my colleague Councilmember Traci Park, the City of Culver City, and the County of Los Angeles.”
“I am profoundly grateful for the collaboration of Mayor Karen Bass, Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, Culver City representatives, and all our nonprofit and city partners,” said Councilwoman Park. “Their support has been instrumental, and we could not have done today's operation without them. The encampment at this location has been among the largest and most challenging on the Westside. Its presence has significantly affected nearby homes and businesses. This initiative will restore public safety and accessibility, ensuring a better quality of life for all residents."
“Today's work shows what can be done when we work together and lead with care and compassion. Our teams worked patiently with our unhoused neighbors to connect them to the housing and services they need,” said Mayor of Culver City, Albert Vera. “I sincerely thank Mayor Bass and the City of Los Angeles, as well as our incredible staff at the City of Culver City, for their efforts to help solve the homelessness crisis in our cities.”
“Today’s Inside Safe at the border of Mar Vista and Culver City is another example of the City and County of Los Angeles’ commitment to not letting jurisdictional lines get in the way of bringing people inside and offering the services and care they deserve,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We will continue to meet people where they are throughout LA County.”
This is the 29th Inside Safe encampment operation in Los Angeles. The initiative is responsible for bringing more than 1,600 Angelenos inside. Mayor Bass is moving Los Angeles forward with an urgent and strategic approach to confronting the homelessness crisis, which includes declaring a state of emergency, taking action to dramatically accelerate and lowering the cost of building affordable and temporary housing, moving to maximize the use of City-owned property for temporary and permanent housing and cutting through red tape to move people into permanent housing.
Inside Safe supports the following five goals:
Reduce the loss of life on our streets
Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for those living in encampments
Eliminate street encampments
Promote long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness
Enhance the safety and hygiene of neighborhoods for all residents, businesses, and neighbors
Read the Inside Safe Executive Directive here.
Inside Safe is one feature in a comprehensive strategy to confront the homelessness crisis. In total, more than 17,000 Angelenos have been housed under the Bass administration through many different strategies including Inside Safe, which has now happened in 29 encampments around the city. The administration is focused on housing more people and also building housing faster – with more than 7000 units of affordable housing expedited in the City of Los Angeles.