LA needs to do more to help the unhoused (Opinion)

Los Angeles’ homeless population continues to increase, but little action is being taken to help people stay off the streets.

According to the NPR article “Homelessness In Los Angeles County Rises Sharply,” there are 41,290 unhoused people in the city limits in 2020, a 14.2% increase from the previous year. Also there are 66,433 unhoused in LA County in 2020, which is a 12.7% increase from 2019.

Mayor Garcetii is trying to fight the crisis with the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee to create paying jobs for Angelenos every year. However, it will be difficult for people to get hired if they are struggling from mental health or addiction problems.

Many of the people who live on skid row in Los Angeles struggle with drug addiction and mental disorders. While the city is offering paying jobs, it will be hard for someone to be hired if they are suffering from crippling disorders.

Veterans with PTSD from their time in the service especially deserve help from a city-funded rehabilitation program.

Finding jobs for people is only half the battle. In order to make sure that the unhoused are successful, the city needs to make sure they are in a stable state of mind with a city-funded rehabilitation program.

Due to the city’s lack of action, ordinary citizens have taken the responsibility of helping the unhoused. “The Good Karma” charity feeds the unhoused on skid row every Wednesday.

Charities like “The Good Karma”and independent organizations operate in areas where the city is absent. LA needs to have a bigger presence in areas with people who need help.

Garcetti continues to make statements about fighting homelessness, but creating jobs is not enough. The data is proof that these new policies are not enough to fight the crisis.

Fighting homelessness also means making sure they are mentally stable and well fed.

Many policies the city makes are announced on the internet or television. They fail to recognize that the unhoused may not have access to these outlets.

The city government needs to play a bigger role in fighting homelessness by physically going to troubled areas like skid row and advocating for people to join a rehabilitation program.

Los Angeles also needs to offer a grooming service so the unhoused have means of personal hygenine.

Only with city-funded rehabilitation programs for the unhoused can a difference be made in the fight against homelessness.