LOS ANGELES—In response to Los Angeles City Council’s declaration of homelessness as a “state of emergency” Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced $100 million plan to help alleviate homelessness in the city, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. 

“We can no longer stand on the sidelines,” said City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. “We have to get into the game.”

“Today we have begun to roll out a comprehensive road map that will work toward the goal of getting tens of thousands of people into homes and off the street,” said Mayor Garcetti during the announcement of the plan at City Hall on Tuesday.

The one-time plan is guided by three key goals; to secure housing for currently homeless individuals, to prevent at-risk individuals and families from becoming homeless through new investments in affordable housing and to make the streets safer and healthier. A proposed method of this is the development of regional access centers that provide free personal property storage, access to clean restrooms, shower facilities and laundry machines, as well as social services and community connections.

The mayor also received joint development by the City, County and Home For Good, a current organization that seeks to end chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County by 2016.

City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. also made remarks. Photo Courtesy Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. also made remarks.

Mayor Garcetti announced a short-term emergency funding of $10 million of housing subsidies to veterans and non-chronically homeless people. The goal of this, according to Mayor Garcetti, is “to rapidly re-house individuals who need short-term assistance to get off the street and on with their lives.”

In addition to this short-term action, Mayor Garcetti announced a $6 million, five-year initiative; the Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA:RISE). The program aims to provide workforce development for individuals who face the greatest barriers to employment, such as people with a history of homelessness, incarceration and runaway youth. The inititive will be funded by the United States Department of Labor City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board and City of L.A.’s Economic and Workforce Development Department

The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) has publicly expressed support for LA:RISE. “REDF is proud to partner with the city of Los Angeles,” stated President and CEO Carla Javits.  The organization “commends their commitment to growing the social enterprise space, a proven approach to supporting those facing the greatest barriers to work.” Since 1997, REDF has supported over 60 different social enterprises,  employed over 10,000 people in need and raised generated over $150 million in revenue.