What does it mean for housing to truly reflect its community? At Venice Community Housing, it starts by bringing residents, neighbors, and local partners into the process from day one.
Our community-led design approach is about more than aesthetics, it’s about relationships, trust, and shared ownership. Through workshops, listening sessions, surveys, and site activations, community members help guide how a space looks, feels, and functions. As our Community Engagement Manager Jonathan Hunter puts it, “One of the things I value most about this work is seeing ideas come directly from the community and then become real. It changes how people connect to a place.”
Public art is a powerful way this approach comes to life. This past weekend, we celebrated the “unveiling” of a new mural at one of our buildings, created in partnership with Color the Water and artists River Garza and Glen Wilson. The mural is more than a visual statement; it’s a space for storytelling, culture, and connection. As Jonathan explains, “It’s not just about building housing, it’s about building something the community sees itself in.”
Jonathan is also coordinating opportunities for residents and youth program participants to work with the artists in the coming weeks. These sessions will allow participants to engage hands-on, learn new skills, and contribute directly to the artwork, a living example of community-led design in action.
Community-led design ensures that those most often excluded from traditional development processes are not just included, they are helping lead the way. “For us, it means shifting who gets to have a voice,” Jonathan says. “We’re creating space for people who have historically been left out of these decisions to lead them.”
Through this approach, our buildings and public spaces do more than house people, they reflect the identity, vision, and creativity of the communities that call them home.
Resident services are a core part of what we do at Venice Community Housing, supporting residents beyond housing and helping build strong, connected communities. From access to everyday essentials to educational activities and social gatherings, these programs create opportunities for neighbors to connect, learn, and support one another. Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening across our communities lately.
As inflation on every day goods disproportionately impacts people with lower-incomes, VCH’s Shop Day, most recently held last Tuesday, invites residents to “shop” for free essentials, including clothing, household items, hygiene products, toys, and small self-care treats. This is made possible through the generosity of our partners and our community.
It’s also a time for neighbors from across our buildings to come together, connect, and enjoy a shared sense of community. For Case Manager Desiree, Shop Day is especially meaningful. “I love Shop Day because it gives me a chance to spend time with residents from across our communities in a different way,” she shared. “Even with the busy energy of the day, it’s an opportunity to check in, catch up, and strengthen relationships, helping everyone feel connected and supported as part of the VCH community.”
On Tuesday, our Study Lounge students spent the afternoon painting on canvases outside with art instructor Janvi and then shared their artwork with one another. Many wore green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, adding a festive touch to the creative fun.
This month, the Study Lounge poster board highlights Women’s History Month, giving students a chance to learn, explore, and celebrate inspiring contributions from women throughout history.
At our Aviation Apartments, residents enjoyed a Bingo Day hosted by Art and Daniel. With snacks and prizes available, everyone had a chance to play, win, and spend time together outdoors.
Events like these provide residents with a relaxed opportunity to connect with neighbors, enjoy a few games, and share in the simple pleasures of community life.
The 2026 Venice Design Series marks our 12th year celebrating the diverse and distinctive cultures of Los Angeles through architecture, design, food, and shared experience, while raising critical funds for Venice Community Housing.
This year’s series features two thoughtfully curated events, each offering behind-the-scenes access and opportunities to connect with the creative communities that shape our region.
Saturday, April 25: Artists’ Studios Tour and Local Lunch
Guests will enjoy guided visits to Los Angeles artists’ studios, including the studio of legendary artist Charles Gaines, housed in a Peter Tolkin of TOLO Architects–designed space and featured in Architectural Digest, and the Mixografia workshop, a pioneering Los Angeles printmaking studio known for its collaborative, three-dimensional fine art editions. The day concludes with lunch at West Adams’ Maydan Market, a culinary destination built around the idea of a shared hearth that will extend the creative experience through food, conversation, and community.
Saturday, May 2: Bloom Ranch Visit and Farm-to-Table Lunch
Join us for a day at Bloom Ranch, the largest Black-owned farm in Los Angeles County. This immersive visit will include guided tours, hands-on activities, and a farm-to-table lunch, set against a working agricultural landscape rooted in sustainability and community care.
Coach transportation from designated pick-up location and lunch will be provided both days.
Proceeds from the Venice Design Series directly support Venice Community Housing’s mission to create and sustain affordable housing on the Westside of Los Angeles. VCH currently owns and operates 352 units of affordable and supportive housing in 20 properties, serving over 640 residents with wraparound services. The organization also has 380+ homes in its predevelopment pipeline.
For sponsorship information or questions, please contact Linda Lucks at [email protected] or 310-526-3857.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to housing justice.
With deep appreciation,
Founders: Jay Griffith, Linda Lucks
Co-Chairs: Sylvia Aroth, Carla Kirkeby
Committee: Michel Dory, Sheila Goldberg, Dolores Golden, Nancy Griffin, Pat Kandel, Barbara Milliken, Tom Paris, Jack Prichett, Anne Zimmerman
PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Marian Place Apartments Opens in Venice, Bringing New Affordable and Supportive Homes
Venice, CA — Venice Community Housing (VCH) is pleased to announce the opening of Marian Place Apartments, a nine-unit, 100 percent permanent supportive housing development located on Marian Place and East Venice Boulevard in Venice. The project brings new deeply affordable homes and neighborhood-serving supportive services to an area facing high housing need.
Marian Place was developed with funding from the Los Angeles County Development Authority through County General and No Place Like Home funds, with additional financing support from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), private donors, and grants from the California Community Foundation and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The site was donated by Deborah Groening Rother, PsyD. The project includes the rehabilitation of six existing residential structures and the construction of one new two-bedroom accessory dwelling unit, a new triplex with two one-bedroom units, and ground-floor space for Well Family Marian Place, providing dedicated program space for family-centered therapeutic services. In total, the development offers seven one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units, with one unit reserved for an on-site Resident Manager. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has provided eight project-based vouchers to ensure long-term affordability for residents.
All units at Marian Place serve special needs households, with a focus on chronically homeless and at-risk chronically homeless families. This population mix reflects the urgent need for supportive housing for families in Venice, the Westside, and throughout Los Angeles.
Residents have access to on-site intensive case management services provided by Venice Community Housing under its Los Angeles County Department of Health Services contract. Well Family Marian Place serves as a subcontractor, offering comprehensive services for the site’s resident families. The site includes indoor service space and outdoor communal areas.
“Marian Place is a testament to what’s possible when community partners, public agencies, and private supporters come together to create homes where families can thrive. These units provide stability, supportive services, and spaces where children and parents can grow together,” said Allison Riley, Co-Executive Director of Venice Community Housing.
“Marian Place provides the kind of affordable and supportive housing that is desperately needed on the Westside. With on-site intensive case management services, parenting supports, and children-centered programming—including a playground, gardens, and community gathering spaces—these units will give local families the stability and care they deserve,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “I’m grateful to Venice Community Housing, Well Family Marian Place, and our partners for ensuring families have the resources they need to build healthy, stable futures.”
“Marian Place serves as a great example of how permanent supportive housing in Los Angeles should be — a place where housing and mental health support services go hand-in-hand,” said Lisa H. Wong, Psy.D., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “The Department of Mental Health looks forward to seeing this community of families and individuals thrive in their new homes.”
Local elected officials and community partners have supported Marian Place throughout its development, recognizing the ongoing need for both new construction and the preservation of existing affordable homes in Venice. VCH extends its gratitude to its public agency partners, including the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
VCH also acknowledges the contributions of its development and construction partners: General Contractor: Mid Construction Group and Perea Construction; Architect: Kevin Daly Architects; Landscape Architect: Place; Construction Manager: AMJ Construction; Sitework Subcontractor: South West Concrete; and Landscape Subcontractor: First Choice Landscape.
About Venice Community Housing: Venice Community Housing (VCH) was founded in 1988 as a grassroots movement to develop comprehensive solutions to rising rates of homelessness and an increasing need for affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. Since then, VCH has worked to invest in permanently affordable housing, advance health and housing-based solutions for unhoused people, promote youth development and education, and build strategic partnerships focused on equity and inclusion. VCH believes we must challenge the root causes of housing injustice and homelessness and actively confront all forms of racism to ensure equitable communities with access to healthy, safe, and affordable homes for all. For more information, please visit https://www.vchcorp.org.
Media Contact: Katherine Regvall (she/her) Communications Manager Venice Community Housing [email protected]
When challenges arise in our city, you don’t look away. You show up. You roll up your sleeves, stand shoulder to shoulder with neighbors, and help build the kind of Los Angeles we all want to live in: one rooted in compassion, equity, and belonging.
That spirit defines you. And it defines the Venice Community Housing family.
Because of your generosity, hundreds of individuals and families have safe, affordable homes. Young people are pursuing education and careers that open doors to stability. And longtime residents are staying rooted in the neighborhoods they love, surrounded by care and connection.
“I have lived with VCH for nearly four years now. That’s the longest I’ve lived anywhere. Living here is the first time that I’ve ever felt safe, in my entire life.”
Sumaiyya, VCH resident
At VCH, we believe courage isn’t just an idea, it’s an action. It’s the single parent who signs a new lease after months in a shelter. It’s the youth who shows up to job training even after setbacks. It’s the neighbors who stand together to protect affordable housing in their community. And it’s you, standing with us year after year, ensuring that this work continues.
Your courage fuels ours. Every time you give, advocate, or lend your voice, you strengthen the foundation of this community and remind our residents that they are not alone. Together, we are turning compassion into impact and challenge into opportunity.
This fall, at our annual Jazz Brunch, we had the honor of celebrating Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a lifelong champion for housing justice and a true model of courage in action and community leadership. As she reminded us:
“Know that the road ahead won’t be easy… but we’re stronger, and if we organize, if we fight, if we refuse to back down, we will win.”
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Her words reflect what we see every day: that when we act with courage and stand together, we can build a city where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Still, the need grows. Too many families remain one rent increase away from losing their homes. Too many neighbors are struggling to hold on. And yet, in the face of it all, our collective courage endures.
That’s why your year-end gift matters so deeply. Your generosity is an act of fortitude, one that provides housing, opportunity, and stability for hundreds of Angelenos. It strengthens our buildings, sustains our programs, and carries forward the belief that we are stronger when we take care of one another.
You’ve already helped build this foundation of hope. Now, you can help it grow. Together, we can continue to show what courage in community truly looks like, standing side by side, building homes, and opening doors to belonging across Los Angeles.
On Sunday, October 12th, Venice Community Housing hosted our 33rd Annual Jazz Brunch — a morning filled with music, connection, and powerful messages of hope and action. Whether you joined us in person or supported from afar, we’re excited to share some of the moments that made this year’s event one of our most impactful yet.
Held at Above the Block, the brunch brought together longtime supporters, new friends, and community leaders to celebrate housing justice and the work we’re building together.
We were honored to welcome Congresswoman Maxine Waters, whose keynote speech reminded us of the urgency of our mission:
“Know that the road ahead won’t be easy — as we all know, the attacks on housing are real. They are dangerous, but we’re stronger, and if we organize, if we fight, if we refuse to back down, we will win.”
Her words were echoed by Allison Riley, our Co-Executive Director, who spoke about the importance of protecting our work and standing firm in our values:
“We must fight because we know what’s at stake. It’s people’s lives, it’s their futures, and it’s their right to call this city home.”
We also heard from Zed, a VCH resident of over 20 years, who shared how stable housing has allowed him to thrive:
“VCH is my family. Because of their personalized care, support, respect and love… I have a safe place to read, do my art, and work on my electronics projects.”
And Micah, a Westside Youth Academy alum, reminded us of the everyday joys that come with stability:
“I’m excited to hopefully get my cat back soon.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised more than we ever have before at a Jazz Brunch — fueling our mission to expand affordable housing and support services across the Westside.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made this event possible. Your support helps us build a more just, inclusive, and compassionate community, one home at a time.
As August marks the beginning of a new school year, we’re reminded of the importance of educational support, especially for young people navigating systemic barriers. At Venice Community Housing, our youth programs are thoughtfully designed to meet these needs with care, commitment, and a holistic approach.
Our Study Lounge offers a safe, supportive space for elementary students to strengthen their reading and math skills through daily academic activities and mentoring (and is currently seeking volunteers! Scroll down for information). Last year, 42 children received free tutoring and enrichment, with all students meeting individualized learning goals in literacy and numeracy.
Meanwhile, our Westside Youth Academy continues to empower transition-aged youth (18–24) through a flexible, student-centered approach to high school diploma attainment, job training, and leadership development. This past school year, six students earned their diplomas, with several already employed or enrolled in college.
To celebrate these achievements and support the future of these programs, we invite you to join us at our Annual Jazz Brunch— a joyful gathering filled with music, community, and purpose. Your presence helps sustain these vital initiatives and ensures every young person has the opportunity to succeed.
Let’s make this back-to-school season a celebration of growth, resilience, and hope.
Honoring Congresswoman Maxine Waters 2025 Courage in Action Award Recipient
Support Venice Community Housing’s mission while enjoying live music, great food, and meaningful connection, as we present the inaugural Courage in Action Award to Congresswoman Maxine Waters. This year’s Jazz Brunch will be held on Sunday, October 12th, 2025, from 11am-2pm, at Above the Block (11301 W Olympic Blvd., Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90064). For information on sponsorships, advertising, silent auction donations, or general questions, please visit vchcorp.org/jazz or contact our team at [email protected].
Residents of Aviation Apartments came together for an afternoon of creativity and connection at our Pizza & Paint event. With brushes in hand and slices on their plates, neighbors shared laughs, stories, and artistic flair. Events like these help foster a sense of community and joy, one canvas (and pizza box) at a time.
Thanks to the generosity of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, VCH’s Study Lounge participants enjoyed a magical night at the Hollywood Bowl. For many, it was their first time experiencing live music in such an iconic venue. The outing was a celebration of culture, community, and the power of shared experiences.
Honoring Congresswoman Maxine Waters 2025 Courage in Action Award Recipient
Support Venice Community Housing’s mission while enjoying live music, great food, and meaningful connection. This year’s Jazz Brunch will be held on Sunday, October 12th, 2025, from 11am-2pm, at Above the Block (11301 W Olympic Blvd., Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90064). Formal invitation to follow. For information on sponsorships, advertising, silent auction donations, or general questions, please contact our team at [email protected].
Dear Friends of VCH,
Last week’s executive order on mental illness and homelessness marks a concerning development in public policy—one that misrepresents and misdiagnoses the problem, and risks worsening the very crisis it purports to solve.
Venice Community Housing knows from decades of work and the research of social scientists worldwide that enforcement-based approaches do not heal; they harm. Pushing people into jails or forced treatment doesn’t stabilize mental health; it compounds trauma, triggers decompensation, and pushes people further from housing.
The homelessness crisis is not a failure of the services and programs that support people. It is a failure of the housing market. The public sector’s underinvestment in affordable housing began more than 50 years ago, and the private sector has never produced a supply of units that keeps pace with the widening wage gap and eroding social safety net. It may be expedient to shift blame onto those who have struggled to find stability, rather than addressing the root cause of the problem, but without housing, people cannot stabilize, heal, or rebuild their lives, regardless of the quality of the programs.
At VCH, we are troubled by the timing of this policy’s release. July is both Disability Pride Month and National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, two observances that uplift communities this order appears to target. It is hard to ignore the discriminatory undertones in policies that criminalize or pathologize poverty, disability, and racialized trauma under the guise of care.
We need bold correction in the housing market, not regression into tough-on-crime responses that we’ve seen fail time and again. Projects like the Venice Dell Community, which will bring affordable and supportive homes to those most in need, must be allowed and encouraged to move forward. We call on our elected leaders to invest in housing and community-based care, not punishment.
VCH stands with our unhoused neighbors, with people living with mental health challenges and disabilities, and with all who know that housing is a human right.
In solidarity and gratitude, Your friends at VCH
Disability Pride Month & National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Did You Know:
25-50% of individuals experiencing homelessness have a disability, including physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, as well as mental health and/or substance abuse disorders, as compared to 20% of the general population (Source)
+50% of housed and marginally housed individuals had traumatic brain injuries — a rate that far exceeds that of the general population. (Source)
35 years ago, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. (Source)
7 in 10 people with disabilities who experience homelessness stay in dangerous locations (e.g., on sidewalks or under bridges), directly affecting their health outcomes (Source)
This month, our communities bloomed with creativity, connection, and care! At the Journey Apartments, residents got their hands dirty in the best way during a gardening workshop led by Morgan from Safe Place for Youth’s SPY Gardens, learning how to cultivate beauty and sustainability right at home.
Over at Tabor Court, our much-loved Shop Day returned, offering residents a chance to pick up free new essentials—from toiletries and clothing to shoes, games, and toys for the kids. It was a day full of smiles and surprises!
And in the kitchen at the Rose Apartments, our amazing volunteer Nancy hosted a cooking class where residents learned to make a delicious Chinese chicken salad, with a vegan option included. It was a flavorful celebration of community and inclusion.
Construction is progressing at 20th Street Apartments, with the team preparing for a foundation slab pour this September. Work is also underway to relocate the temporary ramp to its permanent location, and the parking garage ramp is set to be poured soon.
We’re currently 14% through construction, and recently received City of Santa Monica approval for off-site civil plans. Utility coordination is ongoing for work in the alley, but no delays are expected to impact the overall timeline. The project remains on track for framing to begin in January 2026 and completion in Spring 2027.
Background
The Venice Dell Community is an affordable housing project that aims to provide 120 units and small-scale mixed-use retail space at 200 N. Venice Blvd. on a city-owned, 196-space public parking lot. The new development would provide 100% deed-restricted affordable apartment homes, while maintaining public beach parking spaces within a new parking garage. It would also maintain access to the Grand Canal public boat launch, as well as ADA-accessible pedestrian access. The site is owned by the City of Los Angeles, and Venice Community Housing (VCH) and Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (HCHC) were selected as co-developers through a competitive process initiated by the City in 2016.
Venice Community Housing applied our community-led design practice in conceptualizing and developing the project plan, hosting over 100 community engagement events. More than 2,000 letters of support for the project have been submitted to the City, including more than 530 from Venice residents. The Venice Dell Community was approved by the Los Angeles City Council in December 2021 and in June 2022.
City Obstruction
Our Disposition and Development Agreement requires the City to issue project approvals promptly; however, the City has repeatedly defaulted on its obligations, directing staff to stop working on the Venice Dell Community housing project and erroneously citing a December 2024 Board of Transportation Commission (BOTC) decision to deny progress.
Legal Action Taken
In March of this year, VCH and HCHC filed a writ in the LA County Superior Court alleging abuse of discretion by the City Board of Transportation Commissioners. In May, a Notice of Default was also delivered to the City of Los Angeles under the Disposition and Development Agreement between the City and the Venice Dell L.P. The complaint detailed costs spanning nine years of good-faith efforts by VCH and HCHC.
The City responded with its own Notice of Default, claiming that VCH had not moved the project forward but failing to mention that these delays were caused by obstruction from City officials. The City has backed us into a corner, and we feel we have no choice but to sue to demand that the City move VDC forward and/or pay damages exceeding $10 million. The lawsuit against the City was filed jointly by VCH and HCHC on July 9, 2025.
The Path Forward
Our ideal outcome is for the City to move the Venice Dell Community forward, so we can provide much-needed affordable housing to our vulnerable neighbors. Short of that, VCH is seeking to recover our investment after having put significant resources behind a project initiated by the City.
Venice Community Housing is a nonprofit affordable housing developer, and we take pride in managing our finances with rigor and integrity. But barriers that may be absorbable for profit-driven developers with substantial capital and market-rate rent revenues are neither appropriate nor sustainable for mission-based organizations like ours. The project is financed by a loan that was sound under a reasonable timeline, but the City’s delays have rendered it increasingly burdensome.
Thank You
Venice Community Housing is grateful for the support of the hundreds of community members who have stepped forward in support of this project and our collective desire for affordable housing in Los Angeles. We are committed to transparency and intend to keep you informed about Venice Dell Community as the situation evolves. As ever, we will act in partnership with community during these unprecedented times, and we thank you for your enduring commitment to housing justice.
See Venice Community Housing’s endorsements on important measures and propositions that are on the ballot this November, as well as links to additional resources, below. And be sure to check your voter registration status here.
Developers work to meet the needs of young adults at risk of homelessness
Jeff Durkin, Breadtruck Films
The follow excerpt is courtesy of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine’s article titled “Fostering Connections” written by Donna Kimura.
Rose Apartments is home to young adults who are at risk of being homeless and others who have lived on the streets.
Located in Venice, California, the 35-unit development is among the recent properties serving a growing number of people between the ages of 18 and 25 struggling with homelessness.
“To me, affordable housing has impacted my life in so many ways,” says Coral, one of the young residents. “Personally, it has helped me stay away from temptations and situations that aren’t good for me or my well-being. Without affordable housing, I don’t know where I would be right now. I wouldn’t be inside my home, safe and sound, like I am now.”
She had been experiencing homelessness for about 16 months prior to moving into her apartment, with part of that time in transitional or shared housing…
Where Has All The (affordable) Housing Gone? Find out at Beyond Baroque this Sunday, October 8th, from 2-5 PM (doors open at 1:30).
Venice Community Housing will be at the opening reception of Where Has All The (affordable) Housing Gone? A participatory art project exploring the loss of affordable, rent-control housing in Venice, the exhibit featuring maps, photos, poetry, personal stories, and video based on seven workshops and explorations throughout Venice this spring, organized by Judy Branfman in partnership with Beyond Baroque.
A diverse group of Venetians and other Angelenos, mostly new to each other and with a wide range of housing experiences, have been writing about and photographing the hundreds of properties where people were evicted using the Ellis Act. The project also documents other ways affordable, rent-controlled homes have been eliminated and replaced with market-rate rent-controlled units, single-family houses, hotel rooms, and other types of short-term rentals in Venice.
Workshop participants will read their poetry and guest speakers and organizers will share updates on the ongoing fight for tenants rights in Venice and across Los Angeles. Brief guided tours of the exhibition will highlight some of the themes central to this project, which aims to put a visual, personal, and political face on the loss of many hundreds of affordable rent-controlled homes in Venice, the impact on evicted tenants and the community, and the city’s lack of enforcement of the most basic tenants’ rights using photography, poetry/writing, interviews, and research—culminating in the exhibition opening.
The event is free!
Hear how much VCH housing services have meant to one of our beloved residents–Crystal–and the cat that means the world to her.
Venice Community Housing manages 250+ units of housing, many of which are Permanent Supportive Housing, or “PSH” units. Permanent Supportive Housing is a combination of affordable housing and supportive services that allows formerly unhoused residents to process and recover from trauma, stabilize their health, and focus on growth and future goals. All PSH residents have access to intensive case management services and a network of care that includes mental and physical health providers, financial educators, substance use experts, and more. These resources are enhanced by on-site supports, such as cooking classes, counseling, and resident-driven programming that help every tenant build community, combat isolation, and heal.
Supportive housing provides a home and so much more. It serves as the foundation from which people can build a stable life and makes our neighborhoods stronger and more vibrant. VCH and its Resident Services team have developed a holistic and successful approach to providing services that ensure housing stability, improve physical and mental health outcomes, and enhance tenants’ agency in their lives and communities. Every new unit of permanent supportive housing that we create is an act of justice and compassion for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.
Since its founding, Venice Community Housing has stood firmly against the criminalization of homelessness and poverty. Sweeping, ticketing, and otherwise penalizing people who are experiencing homelessness creates further trauma without addressing our affordable housing crisis in any meaningful way. One example of these unjust efforts is the 41.18 ordinance, which the LA City Council passed in 2021. It bans sitting, sleeping, lying, and using, maintaining, or placing personal property in areas throughout the city, including within 1,000 feet of shelters, safe parking sites, and homeless services navigation centers.
41.18 effectively makes it illegal to exist as an unhoused person in many public spaces and results in unhoused people being disproportionately fined, jailed, and harassed. There is not enough housing to move everyone indoors, so people living in 41.18 zones are simply banished from one area to the next. This is harmful for many reasons, including that it disrupts connections to outreach workers and service providers, which can make it even harder for those impacted to access housing. Additionally, “because the city ordinance does not strictly outline procedures for removing items and people from sitting or lying down in public spaces, the ordinance leaves room for LAPD to implement whatever strategies it finds effective” (California State University, Northridge). This heightens the risk of policing and sweeps at encampments.
Rather than continuing to promote policies that displace and punish people for seeking shelter, we need to invest in permanently affordable housing and supportive services. In the meantime, we can treat our unhoused neighbors with care and dignity and continue to advocate for safe and stable housing for all.
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