Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ $300 million Inside Safe program, aimed at reducing homelessness, has seen 40% of its participants return to the streets.
Launched in December 2022, the initiative sought to clear homeless encampments and provide interim housing, primarily in motels, for about 5,800 individuals. However, a Los Angeles Times analysis revealed that by December 2025, nearly 2,300 participants had returned to unsheltered homelessness.
Despite these setbacks, Bass credits Inside Safe with a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness, from 33,000 to 27,000, over two years. She acknowledges the challenges, emphasizing the need for more services to address mental health and substance use issues among participants. The program aims to transition individuals into permanent housing within 90 days, but the average stay has extended to 362 days, according to Yahoo News.
The program’s strict rules, such as bans on guests and outside food, have drawn criticism. Jonathan Torres, a participant, was expelled for violating these rules and now lives in a tent in Chinatown. Nonprofit leaders, however, argue these restrictions are necessary for safety and to prevent high-risk behavior.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported a 4% decline in total homelessness in L.A. County and a 3.4% drop in the city. However, experts like UCLA Law School professor emeritus Gary Blasi warn that the program’s costs are unsustainable without sufficient permanent housing solutions. Bass remains committed to improving the program, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decisions to strengthen interim housing.
Recent Comments