A South Los Angeles family caring for an 82-year-old patriarch says a ballooning homeless encampment tucked behind his house has turned everyday life into a safety concern. Neighbors report that tents, shopping carts, and bicycle parts now pack the alley so tightly that fire trucks or ambulances might have trouble getting through. They also point to a fire near the site about a year ago and say frequent late-night disturbances have left the block on edge.
Encampment Behind House Has Grown, Family Says
Roxann Becnel, who lives near West 51st Street and South St. Andrews Place, told reporters the encampment has been there for years but has “expanded significantly in recent weeks,” with debris now just feet from her father’s windows. As reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles, Becnel said she has reached out to the city’s 311 system, the mayor’s office, and state officials and was told it could take months before anything is resolved. With the alley blocked, she worries her father, who has limited mobility, could be cut off if there is a fire or medical emergency.
How The City Responds And Why Cleanups Can Stall
City encampment responses typically start with outreach and offers of services before any removal, a process that can take multiple visits and coordination among agencies. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times reported that city crews sometimes showed up only after social media posts drew public attention, and described hazards that included people sheltering inside storm drains and manholes. County efforts such as Pathway Home are designed to move people living in encampments into interim housing and connect them with case management, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
People At The Site Say They Are Not Leaving
Some of the people staying in the alley say they have no plans to move. “We are trying to clean up. We are always here,” Byron Reyes said in Spanish, while other encampment residents told FOX 11 Los Angeles they did not intend to leave. Neighbors counter that short-term sweeps are not a real fix and say they want sustained outreach, regular trash pickup, and a clearer timeline for when and how the city will step in.
What Neighbors Want And What They Can Do
Residents say they are calling for consistent outreach, ongoing sanitation, and a concrete plan to house the people living in the alley, rather than a cycle of brief cleanups that leave the underlying problem intact. Angelenos can submit encampment complaints and request outreach and cleanup through the city’s MyLA311 portal, and county programs can offer interim housing referrals and case management during encampment resolution, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing. For now, Becnel’s family says it will keep pressing officials while keeping a close eye on the alley behind her father’s home.
