A small homeless encampment in Los Angeles Koreatown was dismantled on September 18 after a property owner filed a trespassing complaint, with most residents relocated to temporary housing facilities. The removal highlights both safety concerns and the recurring cycle of displacement in the city’s homelessness crisis.
The site, a vacant lot between 7th and 8th Streets on Manhattan Place, had been left unattended for months. About 10 people had settled there, turning it into a small encampment. For nearby residents, it became a source of fear and discomfort. On the morning of the eviction, six LAPD officers supervised as tents, sleeping bags, and carts were cleared. Residents were told they could no longer re-enter.
Daniel Chavez, patrol leader at the LAPD Olympic Station, personally helped one man retrieve his bicycle before warning him: “We gave you enough time since 6 a.m. If you go back in, you could be arrested.”
The property is owned by ELK Development, which plans to build a 60-unit apartment complex on the site. According to LAPD Patrol Leader Harry Cho, the eviction followed months of complaints from residents. “There was no clear solution at first,” he said. “Recently, the council office worked with the property owner to file an official complaint, and that’s when action was taken.”
City representatives, including staff from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the Mayor’s Office, and Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s office, were on site to offer services. Out of the 10 residents, seven accepted placement in temporary housing facilities, while three declined and returned to the streets…