Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles has successfully transitioned nearly 80 individuals from an entrenched homeless encampment into housing, as part of the city’s Inside Safe program. The encampment that had taken root near the 405 Freeway, existing for nearly a decade, was a well-documented source of public health and safety concerns, not only for those residing there but also for neighboring communities and businesses. According to a statement on the mayor’s official website, city crews have now cleaned the area, and the former encampment residents have been provided with secure housing and essential medical services.
The philosophy behind Inside Safe emphasizes a calculated, human-centric approach. Outreach teams avoid abruptly showing up at encampments. Instead, they spend days, or sometimes even months, making repeated visits to build genuine trust with the individuals there. This methodical process has yielded results, evident in the fact that when the team is in the field housing people, there’s a remarkable phenomenon of walk-ups—people living on the streets seeking out assistance. Mayor Bass highlights the importance of these one-on-one connections, stating, “My top priority has been the safety of Angelenos, and bringing unhoused Angelenos inside to return to safety and dignity is a key part of that goal.”
This initiative represents a significant stride in the city’s battle against homelessness. With the encampment on Cotner Boulevard now dismantled, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky shared her gratitude, crediting Mayor Bass and her team for their dedicated efforts to increase safety and restore the area. “The encampment along Cotner Boulevard posed ongoing public safety and health challenges for those living there and for the surrounding community,” Yaroslavsky told the mayor’s office. She vowed ongoing collaboration to prevent the site’s repopulation…