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Very Large Expenditure, Very Little Care: Los Angeles’s “CARE+” Homeless Services Program in Council District 11
Very Large Expenditure, Very Little Care: Los Angeles’s “CARE+” Homeless Services Program in Council District 11
The City of Los Angeles states that the “primary mission” of the Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE+) program is to “deliver services to the individuals experiencing homelessness within their service areas.” While CARE+ costs taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year, not even including law enforcement, what does this budget translate into on the ground? Conducted by the CD11 Coalition for Human Rights and Venice Justice Committee, Very Large Expenditure, Very Little Care: Los Angeles’ “CARE+” Homeless Services Program in Council District 11 reports findings from repeat observation of CARE+ operations in Venice, a related survey of unhoused persons about displacement and outreach, and a review of Councilmember Traci Park’s communications about CARE+ and homeless encampments. The report finds that CARE+ employs a large number of City staff and equipment to displace and dispossess unhoused people, with little to no outreach for shelter or housing. While the local councilmember celebrates removing encampments and vehicle dwellings with little to no mention of the people living there, it is worth re-considering how well CARE+ matches the City’s priorities for homeless services. As such, the report provides policy recommendations to accomplish neighborhood cleaning while still supporting unhoused people.
The City of Los Angeles states that the “primary mission” of the Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE+) program is to “deliver services to the individuals experiencing homelessness within their service areas.” While CARE+ costs taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year, not even including law enforcement, what does this budget translate into on the ground? Conducted by the CD11 Coalition for Human Rights and Venice Justice Committee, Very Large Expenditure, Very Little Care: Los Angeles’ “CARE+” Homeless Services Program in Council District 11 reports findings from repeat observation of CARE+ operations in Venice, a related survey of unhoused persons about displacement and outreach, and a review of Councilmember Traci Park’s communications about CARE+ and homeless encampments. The report finds that CARE+ employs a large number of City staff and equipment to displace and dispossess unhoused people, with little to no outreach for shelter or housing. While the local councilmember celebrates removing encampments and vehicle dwellings with little to no mention of the people living there, it is worth re-considering how well CARE+ matches the City’s priorities for homeless services. As such, the report provides policy recommendations to accomplish neighborhood cleaning while still supporting unhoused people.
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