Some Los Angeles residents say the housing crisis has literally gone underground, with people sheltering inside the city's storm-drain and sewer network. Neighbors report spotting mattresses, shopping carts, and other belongings tucked into drainage channels, and are pushing City Hall to move faster before a bad situation turns tragic.
FOX 11 Los Angeles recently aired a segment with neighbors describing makeshift living spaces in drains and demanding officials check vulnerable access points. The brief TV clip shines a light on what rescue crews and outreach workers say is usually hidden from view until an emergency forces everyone to pay attention.
Rescues Reveal How Deep The Problem Runs
Firefighters have already confronted people living on the streets. In October 2025, crews pulled a 39-year-old woman from a manhole in Harbor Gateway who appeared to have been living in the drainage network before she fell, according to KFI AM 640. Afterward, city crews covered the exposed opening and checked nearby access points for other hazards.
Official Counts Only Catch Part Of It
On paper, the situation looks like it might be easing. The county’s point-in-time count for 2025 showed an overall drop in homelessness, with both city and county totals down from previous years. The Los Angeles Times reported the 2025 PIT results, although researchers and outreach groups caution that one-night snapshot counts can easily miss people tucked under streets and sheltering inside drainage systems.
What Draws People Underground
People who move below ground often say they are trying to escape heat, rain, violence, and aggressive encampment sweeps on surface streets. For some, the tunnels feel more private than sidewalks or alleyways. At the same time, theft of metal manhole covers and other infrastructure has opened up dangerous entry points. Local leaders have responded by pushing stricter rules for scrap-metal buyers to curb those thefts, according to LAist.
Infrastructure Strain Makes It Worse
Engineers and public works officials point out that big chunks of the region’s sewer and storm systems are decades old and overdue for upgrades, which adds layers of safety and public health risk to the underground living trend. The Los Angeles Times reported in January that cuts in federal support and other funding hurdles have complicated efforts to modernize aging wastewater infrastructure and install covers that are harder to steal.
Neighbors Want Action, Outreach Groups Call For Resources
Residents who live near known access points say they want regular inspections and more proactive outreach so people are identified and helped before another accident. After the Harbor Gateway rescue, crews temporarily covered the hole and inspected nearby drains, according to KFI AM 640. Advocates argue that those basic infrastructure fixes need to be paired with targeted outreach and shelter offers if the city hopes to bring people back above ground safely.
