LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, alongside city, county, state, and community partners, announced the successful first phase of a transformative $6.3 million initiative that has begun to move individuals experiencing homelessness along a four-mile stretch of the 110 Freeway into interim housing and care facilities. The program, funded by the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund, is a milestone of the Councilmember’s "care-first" agenda to address the homelessness crisis in the City of Los Angeles.
Outreach teams have worked for months to build relationships and develop a "By Name List," creating tailored rehousing plans for approximately 70 individuals identified in the area. Last week, the office of Council District 1 launched the first phase of the operation, which successfully brought 27 people indoors and connected them to medical treatment and ongoing care. Participants in this first phase were placed into a variety of facilities, including sites run by LA Global Care, Council District 1’s Northeast New Beginnings, and Clare Matrix, which offer shelter, case management, housing navigation, and recuperative care.
“We promised our unhoused neighbors dignity and a real path to housing,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “The success of this first week is a result of endless hours of planning, and our friends and neighbors in the Northeast will see more of this work in the coming weeks as we restore the public spaces for community use. Thank you to our partners for your partnership in this life-saving work.”
This comprehensive engagement and rehousing plan is made possible through a powerful multi-agency collaboration. Councilmember Hernandez’s office has convened the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Caltrans, LA Sanitation, and leading service providers, including LA Global Care and the USC Street Medicine Team, to create a seamless system of support. This unified effort demonstrates a shared commitment to solving the homelessness crisis through comprehensive, coordinated, and humane approaches.
“USC Street Medicine has been caring for the beautiful people living in and around Lacy Park for a little over 2 years, preparing for this moment when they can have a home,” said Brett Feldman, Director of USC Street Medicine. “Now, with their physical and mental health improved, they are set up for a successful transition into housing. After we go to the people, then we go where they go. We will follow them at their new home. It was an honor to take part in the resolution and to house 27 people whom we care so deeply for in one day!”
“This is what care-first solutions look like in action - 27 people indoors in the first week, with tailored plans for dozens more,” said Senator María Elena Durazo. “For five years, I've supported over $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funds in the state budget because I know these investments save lives. Councilmember Hernandez is proving that when we combine state resources with strong local leadership and comprehensive services, we can deliver real results for our unhoused neighbors and our communities."
“I am deeply grateful to Councilmember Hernandez for her leadership and commitment to bringing people inside and providing the care they need,” said Gita O'Neill, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. “LAHSA is proud of the tireless efforts of its outreach teams, whose expertise built the rapport and trust necessary to ensure each person was ready to come indoors. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners as the steward of the LA Continuum of Care to address unsheltered homelessness.”
“I want to thank Councilmember Hernandez for leading this effort, which reflects our shared commitment to compassionate, community-centered solutions that uplift every Angeleno,” said Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “This initiative will help bring our unhoused neighbors along the 110 Freeway indoors, not just temporarily but with the long-term support they need to rebuild their lives. I am also grateful to all the partners for working together to deliver the critical services that make this possible. Together, we are helping more people find stability, safety, and a true place to call home.”
As individuals voluntarily move indoors, LA Sanitation crews will work to clear and restore the area, safely removing makeshift structures that pose a danger to both unhoused neighbors and the nearby community, particularly during extreme weather. Additionally, the Department of Recreation and Parks will begin revitalizing the green space to make it safe and welcoming for the entire community once again, starting by loosening and restoring the soil, repairing the irrigation system, and planting durable, high-traffic grass to ensure the park can thrive in the long term.
“LA Global Care is very grateful to be of service to our unhoused community, providing quality housing for those in need,” said Victor James, Director of Homeless Services, LA Global Care. “Our team's mission revolves around two quotes that stand out and contribute to our approach to serve: 'How big is YOUR brave,' which challenges everyone to be the best that they can be in the quest to end homelessness, and 'Find a way to say yes,’ going the extra mile to be of service. Thank you, Council District 1, for your partnership in making a difference.”
With today’s announcement, Council District 1 further reaffirms its commitment to invest in care-first models to achieve long-term results for its housed and unhoused residents alike.
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