More than 30 people who had been living in recreational vehicles (RVs) and encampments in East Los Angeles transitioned into interim housing last month as part of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative Pathway Home operation.
The effort comes two years after the Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to declare homelessness a state of emergency in L.A. County, cutting through the red tape that makes addressing it a slow process.
Since its inception in August of 2023, Pathway Home operations have taken place in multiple locations, including in Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Santa Monica, Compton, Duarte and South L.A.
The most recent effort was in East L.A. where a group of 32 people were temporarily relocated into housing at a local motel.
(Left) A motel in East L.A. provides temporary housing to 32 previously experiencing homelessness in the area. (Right) Rooms include beds, a shower and fridge. On-site resources are also available for residents. Photos courtesy of County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
The operation was carried out through a collaboration between the L.A. County Homeless Initiative, County Chair Pro Tem Hilda Solis’ office and various service providers.
“By offering safe, supportive housing and vital services, we are helping people take the crucial steps towards permanent housing and a brighter future, with dignity and respect every step of the way,” said District 1 Supervisor Solis.
Here’s how Pathway Home works:
- Outreach teams develop relationships with people at an encampment, offering access to any immediate needs and connecting them to interim housing.
- RVs and encampments are removed and areas are cleaned.
- Here, they receive supportive services including case management, life skills development, connections to mental and physical health care, meals and more.
- Those in the program are supported throughout the process of finding permanent housing and are connected to available vouchers, subsidies and more when needed. Participants can still access resources from the program once they’ve transitioned out of interim housing.
The goal is to transition participants to permanent housing within six months.
Among those who transitioned into temporary housing in East L.A. was Paul Perez.
Perez was pushing a shopping cart full of plastic bottles and aluminum cans to recycle for cash when he was approached by members of the L.A. County Homeless Initiative, he said.
After receiving water, food and mental health support, Perez was chosen to participate in the latest Pathway Home operation.
“I was going to pass up on it because of the fear of change, but I’m glad I went with it,” said the 40-year-old. “It was all a smooth process, a true blessing. I’m hoping to get a job now that I have a stable place where I can shower and have an address to share on applications.”
More than 900 Los Angeles County residents have been brought indoors and hundreds of RVs have been taken off the streets through Pathway Home, according to the L.A. County Homeless Initiative.
You can learn more about the project at homeless.lacounty.gov/pathway-home/.
