Last Updated on April 30, 2021
Progress Report – April 2021
Friends,
Here are some updates,news items and resources from our research and outreach since our last progress report.
- Court Injunction Against the City of LA. “A federal judge overseeing a sweeping lawsuit about homelessness in Los Angeles … ordered the city and county to find shelter for all unhoused residents of Skid Row within 180 days and audit any spending related to the out-of-control crisis of people living on the streets. In a fiery 110-page order, Judge David O. Carter slammed officials’ inability to restrain the unprecedented growth of homelessness that has seen encampments spread into nearly every neighborhood in the region….
All of the rhetoric, promises, plans, and budgeting cannot obscure the shameful reality of this crisis — that year after year, there are more homeless Angelenos, and year after year, more homeless Angelenos die on the streets,” Carter wrote in granting a preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs last week…. In addition, Carter mandated the city auditor examine all public money spent in recent years to combat homelessness, including funds from a 2016 bond measure approved by voters to create 10,000 housing units over a decade. But that project has been slow to ramp up.”
Read more. - News about Friends House. Throughout this winter, Friends House has provided safe, affordable housing for five people plus one more person in another location. While the residents experienced fewer employed hours and income in the winter months, Friends of the Unsheltered was able to offer “discounts” to all the residents from the donations we have received, thus keeping them all housed. With the spring tourists returning to Astoria, all residents have been able to be current in their rent payments and are also starting to save money to be able to find their own place to rent in the future.
Read more here.