Greater LA
Why LA homelessness is getting worse
There’s a move to get thousands of Angelenos off the streets and into shelters. A judge ordered it. The City and County of LA agreed to it.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 24m ListenThere’s a move to get thousands of Angelenos off the streets and into shelters. A judge ordered it. The City and County of LA agreed to it. But homeless advocates say it’s only a start.
“We need to have the shelter capacity to move people indoors. But most importantly, we need to have the housing on the backend, so the people can move out of shelter[s] and into housing,” says Heidi Marston, executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
What happens after unhoused people get roofs over their heads? Why is homelessness getting worse in LA?
In this episode
3 storiesLA and US district judge agree to get thousands of unhoused Angelenos into shelters
More than 66,000 people now live on the streets of LA County, a 13% rise year over year. The numbers are up for the fifth time in six years. Last week, the City and County of LA reached an agreement with U.S. District Judge David O.
Read the story6 minNew LA homelessness director: ‘Police officers can't be social workers’
Heidi Marston is the new executive director of LAHSA. She talks with KCRW about the importance of housing unsheltered people during COVID-19 and the role of police in homelessness outreach.
Read the story6 minOrange County won’t enforce Gov. Newsom’s statewide mask mandate
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said in a statement, "It is each person's responsibility to wear a face covering and follow other recommended safeguards, in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is not law enforcement's responsibility to enforce it."
Read the story7 min
