L.A. Councilman Kevin de León is leading a cleanup effort at an encampment near City Hall on Monday.
KNX News’ Craig Fiegener spoke to de León. He said 38 former encampment residents will be housed after the cleanup. . De León exercised the city rule – known as 41.18 – which doesn’t allow people to sit, lie down, sleep, or store personal property in the public right-of-way.
De León said there’s housing available for everybody at this encampment. He also said he began talking to people living in the encampment about a week ago and told them about the cleanup. People at the encampment don’t have the voice to stay there, but they can set up a tent somewhere else.
“Yeah, I’d like to have housing but I ain't had housing in so long. Look, I'm kinda in fear of housing,” said Michael, who lives in the encampment.
He explained that he fears housing “because I've been what we call free so long that [being] enclosed I think might take a mental effect on me in some type of way.”
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
People from the encampment will be housed in the same area, so they won’t have to go far. There will be rules – like curfews – that come with the housing.
This cleanup effort is not a part of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe homelessness program. De León is using his district’s discretionary funds for this effort.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok