Mayor Eric Garcetti Continues Focus on Homelessness  ... 1 of 2 >
Dec. 15, 2018 - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin at the winter outreach event organized by The Giving Spirit at Brentwood Presbyterian Church.  Volunteers assembled winter readiness kits for the homeless.  There are 57-58,000 homeless people living in Los Angeles County and, according to the most recent report (May 31) from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, 31,516 homeless people living in the City of Los Angeles.  This is a five percent drop from the 2017 figure, but Tom Bagamane, founder and chairman of The Giving Spirit, said that the number of homeless encampments has increased markedly in the last two years.  In remarks to volunteers Mayor Garcetti declared, "Our goal is to end homelessness in the City of Los Angeles for good—for good."  Garcetti has placed a major focus on ending homelessness; he said this was his ninth event related to homelessness this week.  In Nov. 2016 Los Angeles voters approved Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond measure paid for by a $0.348 per square foot property tax, to build 10,000 units of supportive housing (+).  In April the City declared a shelter crisis; and it is working to open temporary homeless shelters in each of the 15 Council districts, which has proved controversial. 

Mayor Garcetti, Councilman Bonin and Bonin's son Jacob.
Garcetti holds his daughter, Maya, while speaking to volunteers.

Posing for photos before the event...
Councilman Bonin and son Jacob.
Mayor Garcetti's public activities on homelessness in the past few days:

Dec. 14 - 4050 S. Figueroa Street:  Groundbreaking of RISE Apartments — a supportive housing development for formerly homeless veterans and Angelenos funded by Proposition HHH.

Dec. 12 - City Hall East, Civic Plaza:  Participates in the Winter Homeless Connect Day, where Angelenos experiencing homelessness — including residents of the El Puente bridge housing site — can meet with service providers; access information on housing, medical care, employment programs, and legal aid services; and receive holiday gifts.

Dec. 12 - North Valley Caring Services:  Opening of a new Safe Parking site — where homeless Angelenos living in their vehicles can get connected to services and resources.

Dec. 10 - Names Christina Miller as Deputy Mayor for City Homelessness Initiatives, to lead his administration’s response to the homelessness crisis.

Dec. 10 - 10966 Ratner Street:  Groundbreaking of A Community of Friends’ Casa del Sol — a supportive housing development for formerly homeless older Angelenos funded by Proposition HHH.
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