LOS ANGELES – The L.A. Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved Mayor Bass’ motion today to take a comprehensive, coordinated approach to addressing homelessness on the second-largest public transportation system in the country. Mayor Bass’ actions follow a recent Inside Safe operation on Los Angeles’ Westside that brought more than 50 people inside from an encampment that had become entrenched over many years.
“Today’s decision shows that we are about taking action and moving with urgency to bring people inside who are currently experiencing homelessness on Metro or in nearby communities,” said Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “We must do all we can to ensure that the homelessness crisis is confronted within each of our cities and jurisdictions and that these efforts are reinforced and coordinated with the Metro system.”
The motion directs Metro to develop a comprehensive Social Resources and Homelessness Action Plan to address homelessness within the Metro transit system and to work closely with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and service providers to improve coordination and interventions and ensure access to resources.
Today’s instructions build on Metro’s continued efforts since 2017 to address the rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness on the system by making some of its land available for housing and solutions to RV encampments, increasing outreach team presence on the system, and participating in LAHSA’s Point-In-Time Count for the first time in 2023. The motion was co-authored by Vice Chair and County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Director and County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Director and County Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Director and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky and Director Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker.
“No one should have to turn to a bus, train, or train station for shelter, and we cannot expect Metro to solve this challenge on its own,” said Metro Board Vice Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Today’s motion is a big step toward better collaboration between this agency and our partners who have the expertise, the resources, and the mandate to bring our unhoused residents in, whether it’s from the street or from a bus or train.”
“Today’s motion to create a clearinghouse for Metro’s homelessness strategy seeks to further align our regional approach to homelessness so we can urgently focus on solutions that work,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “I join Mayor Bass in all efforts to increase accountability, compassionately care for vulnerable people, and ensure our trains and busses are safe, comfortable, and preferred transportation options.”
“Metro has been on the front lines of addressing our housing, mental health, and opioid addiction crises – and I have seen firsthand how stations with acute needs for services and interventions can be transformed into more welcoming spaces through multijurisdictional coordination and partnership. I thank Mayor Bass for inviting me to co-author today’s motion so that Metro, the County, and the City can continue to explore opportunities for collaboration on connecting people experiencing homelessness in our transit system to social services and resources,” said Metro Board Director and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District.
"The magnitude of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis requires us to work strategically and build partnerships with our local, County, State, and Federal partners. Mayor Bass’ motion ensures the Metro agency assumes its responsibility to be held accountable through establishment of an Action Plan while also ensuring strong collaboration between Metro and LAHSA," said Metro Board Director Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker.
“Our homelessness crisis requires collaboration across all levels of government in Southern California, and LA Metro is no exception. Thousands of unhoused Angelenos ride Metro everyday, and this motion will ensure we are prepared to meet them where they are, and connect them with services and housing,” said Metro Board Director and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky. “I applaud Mayor Bass for her leadership on this motion, and I look forward to working with her and our fellow board members to identify additional ways LA Metro can meaningfully address homelessness throughout the region.”
"As a Los Angeles County agency invested in solutions to the region’s homeless crisis, I truly appreciate the motion brought forth today,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “While we’ve made big strides in helping unhoused riders gain access to housing since 2018, it takes strategic collaboration to make the greatest impact. This motion calls for a coordinated approach by the City and County of Los Angeles, and I look forward to seeing how this motion incorporates Metro into the larger regional efforts that aim to end homelessness for Angelenos.”