The ongoing battle against homelessness in Los Angeles is seeing a ray of hope, as new data indicates the "We Are LA" program is proving to be effective at keeping people housed. A recent study by Loyola Marymount University, shared by the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, suggests this preventive approach might be a key factor in the city's first observed decrease in homelessness in years.
Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the essence of prevention, stating, "Addressing the humanitarian crisis in our City must also focus on preventing people from falling into homelessness in the first place." Results from March to August of the preceding year showed that about 75% of individuals who accessed the program reported better housing stability, according to their study. Notably, the city's efforts have witnessed a significant 10% drop in street homelessness last year, with early figures hinting at a potential continuation of this trend.
Operational strategies such as the City’s eviction filing system have been instrumental in identifying at-risk families and individuals, a campaign spearheaded by Councilmember Nithya Raman. We Are LA integrates one-on-one caseworker involvement to navigate the complex web of applications for services, technological hurdles, and legal obstructions. "The key to the program is personal, one-on-one, human-to-human support," Conway Collis, President and CEO of the Mayor’s Fund, told the Mayor's office. This personalized support extends from securing legal assistance to aiding with food services, helping unlock finances to aid with rent payments.
Encouragingly, statistics show nearly 100 Inside Safe operations have been conducted since December 2022, and there's a near doubling of Permanent housing move-ins compared to the prior year, further advocating for the comprehensive nature of Mayor Bass's approach.
