LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Imelda Padilla and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath announced the newest Inside Safe operation, which concluded yesterday on Aetna Street in Van Nuys. Inside Safe is an initiative launched to house Angelenos living in encampments and to prevent encampments from returning. More than 40 Angelenos have come inside during the operation. Outreach in the vicinity will continue.
Inside Safe is a citywide, voluntary approach that leads with housing and services and works to prevent encampments from returning. It is one feature in a comprehensive strategy to confront the homelessness crisis.
“Inside Safe is reaching all parts of Los Angeles, and this week we brought Angelenos from Van Nuys inside on a path to permanent housing,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Sometimes sustained outreach is needed at difficult encampments and this will be a continued effort. I want to thank Councilmember Imelda Padilla for her leadership and our new partnership, and I look forward to our ongoing work to confront the homelessness crisis. I also want to thank Supervisor Horvath, LAHSA and our County partners who continue to hit the ground running with my Office as we urgently confront the homelessness and give people the fresh start to their lives that they deserve.”
This is the 25th Inside Safe encampment operation throughout Los Angeles. The initiative is responsible for bringing more than 1,500 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 lower 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.
“Since coming into office, my team and I have been working to house Angelenos in our district, and this is a big step forward in addressing the encampments in the Valley,” said Councilmember Imelda Padilla. “I am proud to lock arms with Mayor Bass's Office, the service providers and our County partners on this latest Inside Safe initiative to bring people inside with a path to permanent housing in this proactive, housing-led solution that is changing the lives of so many."
“City-County partnership and dedicated nonprofit partners are bringing people inside across Los Angeles and the Third District, including this week’s operation in Van Nuys,” said L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Through significant outreach, residents have been offered services and safe shelter, creating stable foundations from which they can rebuild their lives.”
Inside Safe supports the following five goals:
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Reduce the loss of life on our streets
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Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for those living in encampments
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Eliminate street encampments
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Promote long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness
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Enhance the safety and hygiene of neighborhoods for all residents, businesses, and neighbors
Read the Inside Safe Executive Directive here.