Along Highway 110, near a community in Los Angeles, lies a residential area that is quite different from what one might typically imagine. According to ABC7, most of the houses here are temporary shelters constructed by the homeless using tents and waterproof materials like tarps.
“This place is good because no one bothers us,” said Cesar, who lives in one of the makeshift homes. “That’s why we are here.”
Cesar has been living at the camp for four years, working part-time. He mentioned that due to unstable employment, he cannot afford to buy a house. “I can’t move elsewhere for work because the rent is too high,” he explained.
The office of Eunisses Hernandez, a Los Angeles city council member representing the area, issued a statement regarding the situation: “Our outreach team is working diligently to urgently find housing for those living at the camp and address safety concerns posed by the structures and their proximity to the river.”
Hernandez stated that due to the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, there aren’t enough housing options to accommodate the over 46,000 homeless individuals in the city. The office finds this situation unacceptable and is striving to swiftly address the crisis through short-term and long-term solutions.
On the 15th of this month, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass presented the 2024 State of the City address. She noted that in 2023, the number of homeless individuals in Los Angeles had increased by 10% from the previous year, reaching 46,260 people.
Bass called on the “luckiest Angelenos” to participate in an investment plan aimed at accelerating the construction of affordable housing for the homeless.
She mentioned that the project is seeking funding from “individuals, the private sector, and charitable foundations” to assist the city in acquiring more properties, reducing capital costs, and expediting housing construction. She emphasized that it is crucial to rely on the generosity of the private sector to address the issue.
According to a study released by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) on June 20th of last year, California has the highest number of homeless individuals in the United States.
The UCSF’s California Homelessness Research report indicated that California, with 12% of the U.S. population, accounts for 30% of the nation’s homeless population, with unsheltered individuals (living outdoors, in vehicles, or in unsuitable places for human habitation) comprising half of the total.
Furthermore, the study refuted the previous assumption that most of California’s homeless population originated from out of state. The report pointed out that “almost all of California’s homeless individuals are locals.” In interviews, 90% of homeless people stated that they lost their last residence in California.
The study found that the high cost of living in California is a significant factor leading many people into homelessness. In the six months before becoming homeless, the median monthly income for these respondents’ households was $960.
The report also noted that among individuals who were renting before becoming homeless, 21% attributed their loss of housing to a decrease in income.
责任编辑 (Responsible Editor): Fang Ping