Mayor Karen Bass's Inside Safe initiative successfully transitioned 33 unhoused individuals and five pets from a Westlake encampment into safe, stable housing last week. This operation, conducted in coordination with Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, addressed an encampment near Ocean View Avenue and S Lake Street, providing shelter with supportive services and clearing the site of tents and debris.
"This 139th operation builds on our record of bringing thousands of Angelenos indoors while returning sidewalks and public spaces to local communities, business owners, and commuters," said Mayor Karen Bass. She highlighted the location's proximity to hospitals, places of worship, and apartment complexes, noting that families and professionals would no longer encounter a large encampment.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez expressed gratitude to outreach workers and city teams, stating, "This Inside Safe operation brought dozens of our unhoused neighbors in Westlake indoors and connected them with shelter, supportive services, and a path toward permanent housing." She affirmed that efforts would continue until every neighbor has a safe home.
Inside Safe is a key component of Los Angeles' strategy to combat homelessness, contributing to an 11% decline in street homelessness since Mayor Bass took office. Beyond these direct interventions, the administration is also focused on prevention and increasing housing supply by cutting red tape for affordable housing, updating the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, implementing eviction prevention programs, and advancing initiatives like the Citywide Housing Incentive Program and the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance.