unsheltered youth – Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership

Opposition Letter to LA County Ordinance 41.18

What is LA County’s Ordinance Section 41.18?

Ordinance Section 41.18 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to specify the particular times and locations where it shall be unlawful for a person to sit, lie, or sleep, or to store, use, maintain, or place personal property in the public right-of way.

The proposed ordinance

Map Detailing the affected area

The Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership Opposition

The Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership expresses profound concerns about the potential consequences of legislation (referred to as 41.18) that grants the city authority to prohibit sitting, sleeping, and lying within specific zones. These zones encompass areas near freeways, certain facilities, and new housing initiatives, and criminalize property storage within these zones.

The partnership, comprising agencies aiding homeless youth, fears that such legislation would severely affect the youth they assist for the following reasons:

Unsheltered Youth Impact: A significant portion of homeless youth (55% in LAHSA’s 2020 count) remain unsheltered, often relying on services provided by the coalition.
Housing Shortage: Adequate housing, particularly tailored to youth’s specific needs, is lacking, with a stark imbalance between available beds and demand.
Criminalization Concerns: The coalition worries that this legislation could lead to the criminalization of homeless youth, disproportionately affecting Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ individuals and perpetuating lifelong negative impacts.
Law Enforcement Referrals: Enlisting law enforcement for homelessness referrals could strain already tense youth law enforcement relationships and contradict evidence-based practices.
Hidden Population: The legislation could drive homeless youth further into hiding, complicating efforts to accurately assess their numbers and needs during the pandemic.
Resource Burden: The legislation might increase service provider burdens by compelling them to replace confiscated belongings, manage additional legal issues, and support youth with unmet needs.

The partnership strongly believes that this legislation could reinforce the criminalization of homeless youth, exacerbate disparities faced by marginalized groups, and worsen existing barriers, especially during a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movements. The coalition calls for a thoughtful reconsideration of the legislation’s potential implications.

Read the full opposition letter [here].

Youth Count Press Release

The Youth Homeless Count continues to perpetuate the invisibility of young people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

The press release from September 8, 2022, highlights the results of the recent Youth Homeless Count in Los Angeles. The count, which was the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, shows a 58% reduction in unsheltered youth. However, the reduction is primarily attributed to COVID-related factors rather than a significant decrease in youth homelessness.

The Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership (HHYP) and the Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness (LACEYH) emphasize that this year’s count doesn’t present the complete picture of youth homelessness in the city. The challenging circumstances surrounding the count included COVID outbreaks affecting youth-serving organizations and resulting in staff and volunteer shortages. This led to a 64% decrease in the number of surveys collected, highlighting the count’s unique challenges.

While some data suggests progress, with investments in the youth-serving system and policies helping stabilize housing situations for some young people, there remain limitations in accurately capturing the extent of youth homelessness. Many young people who lack stable housing and utilize homeless services daily don’t fit within the strict federal definition of homelessness.

Despite lower overall numbers, concerning trends emerge from the data. The percentage of unsheltered young people reporting mental health issues nearly doubled, while substance abuse issues saw a significant increase. Additionally, a study from the L.A. County Department of Public Health indicates a stark rise in deaths among unhoused youth since the pandemic’s start.

The press release emphasizes the need for continued resources and investment in interventions that work for young people, along with addressing worsening mental health and substance use issues. It suggests that the Youth Count methods should adapt to better reflect the evolving state of youth homelessness and consider alternative data sources beyond the strict HUD definition.

To facilitate further discussion on these matters, the HHYP and LACEYH plan to host a virtual town hall on youth homelessness on September 14 at 3:00 PM, inviting participants to engage in this critical conversation.

Opposition Letter to LA County Ordinance 41.18

Youth Count Press Release

The Youth Homeless Count continues to perpetuate the invisibility of young people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

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