Update on PP Homeless Shelter

1) General Background/Federal Court Case:

Mayor Garcetti has issued a directive for 13 of the City's recreation centers that are designated for use in emergencies (including Palisades Recreation Center) to be used as temporary emergency shelters for the homeless during the coronavirus crisis.

This directive comes amid proceedings in a recent federal court lawsuit involving the homeless in Los Angeles, presided over by U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter (the same judge who last year presided over Orange County homelessness cases). At a lengthy hearing last week, City and County officials (including the Mayor, the presidents of the Board of Supervisors and LA City Council, the City Attorney and District Attorney) were grilled by the Judge and prompted to finalize plans to house the homeless during the crisis. See a transcript of the hearing here.

As of this past weekend, several of the City's recreation centers have been set up as homeless shelters and are in use, including centers in Westwood and Cheviot Hills. We understand that inadequate staffing is an issue and may result in some changes in the plans, with a possible shift to alternate types of shelter, such as placing large temporary tents in County parking lots or housing individuals in empty motels. More information is expected about the plans in the coming days.

2) Status in the Palisades:

Palisades Recreation Center, along with other centers in CD 11 (Oakwood in Venice & Westchester), are on the list of proposed sites for the temporary homeless shelters. We don't know whether Oakwood or Westchester have been activated yet, but to date the Palisades has not (the timing is unknown at this point).

We've been advised by Allison Polhill, Chief Advisor & District Director of LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin (also PPCC's Education Advisor), that the Palisades Charter High School gym is not available as an alternate site for a homeless shelter.

Answers to PPCC's Questions about Plans to Manage and Operate the Emergency Shelters.

The Executive Committee has been told that CD11 staff is working on finding answers to our questions, but that since this emergency measure is primarily under the purview of the Mayor and the City's Emergency Management Department (EMD), those offices, along with the Recreation and Parks Department (RAP), should be better able to answer our questions. We have therefore written a follow-up letter to Mayor Garcetti, EMD General Manager Aram Sahakian and RAP General Manager Mike Shull, asking the same questions, providing additional information on unsanitary and inadequate conditions at the Palisades Recreation Center, and inquiring how the City plans to meet CDC guidelines for addressing homelessness in this crisis. See PPCC EC Letter to Mayor, also linked in the blue button below.

In the meantime, LAPD Captain III Jonathan Tom, Commanding Officer of West Division, has obtained information from the LAPD's Homelessness Coordinator about proposed management of the emergency shelters. Capt. Tom has advised us that two LAPD officers will be stationed 24-7 at each of the shelters. He also provided the following answers to our questions (note that he reworded and/or consolidated some of our questions for simplicity; LAPD's answers are in italics/blue font).

1. Are all programs at the rec centers suspended until further? Yes, all formal programing has been suspended due to the Mayor’s Safer at Home order.

2. Are the homeless inside the shelters allowed to come and go as they please or are they on lockdown? People can leave the shelters under the same condition that any other person can leave their homes.

3. Are there public health services (medical, mental, etc) co-located at the shelters? Yes, nurses are posted at each site. Mental Health clinicians are rotating through the locations.

4. Is the City providing food, clothing and medicines? At this time, we are providing food. As the program expands out, we plan on building logistics for food. Medicine is not in the discussion at this time. We will transfer sick individuals to the County Health System.

5. Who is staffing (city, county, Red Cross, etc?) the shelters? Currently, City Employees and LAHSA service providers who are used to working with population and bring their rapports and expertise.

6. Are the shelters only for local homeless or will people be bussed in from other areas? What areas and how will the City decide which shelters bussed in people will go to? The concern here is that new homeless persons will be released to their communities once the shelters close. At this point, the shelters are regional. When the 41 shelters open City-wide, then the catchment areas will get more local.

7. How will the shelters create social distancing inside the shelters? Every shelter is inspected by County Department of Health to ensure Social Distancing compliance of the set up. Clients are advised of Social Distancing and hygiene rules upon check in and are supervised by staff.

8. Will people be separated by age, gender, drug or alcohol dependency? At this point, no due to the nature of the emergency.

9. Will alcohol and drugs be allowed? If not, will they be confiscated? Arrests made? They are not permitted. Clients are not searched. Arrests will be made as appropriate.

10. What will be done with the homeless’ personal property? How much will they allow in? Sixty gallon bins have been provided for each bed.

11. How will the staff ensure cleanliness and hygiene in these shelters? Custodial staff are on 24 hours per day and are following CDC and Dept of Heath guidelines.

12. Will parking be limited to staff and homeless residents? No.

13. Will the whole site be shut down or will people be allowed to utilize other areas of the rec center, such as the park? The park should be available as long as social distancing is maintained.

14. Will community volunteers be allowed to help or donate items? We are still working on the logistics to receive this.

15. Are these shelters permanent? If not, who will decide when they close and what criteria will they use to do so? When the shelters are closed, will the homeless be bussed back to where they were picked up, released to the communities where the rec centers are or taken to another location where there are services? The shelters are temporary. The Mayor will decide. There are no plans to transport people “back to where they were picked up.” LAHSA intends to work with the temporary sheltered population to connect them to services while they are in one place.

Again, if we receive further responses from CD11, the Mayor,
EMD or RAP officials, we will share those with the community.

We thank Capt. Tom and all our LAPD officers for their
responsiveness & dedication to protecting our community.
LAPD, LAFD, City & County staff and medical professionals
are on the frontlines, but we are all in this together . . .
Stay safe & well, everyone!