Garcetti’s spending proposal for the homeless of almost $1 billion will be discussed during his State of the City address on Monday. The Mayor has proposed $791 million in the upcoming budget year for initiatives to help homeless residents. Homeless in Los Angeles has reached epidemic proportions.   $160 million of funds that were allocated for homelessness programs had not yet been spent will rollover to the current budget.

Tens of thousands have lived on the streets as homeless in many areas of our Los Angeles neighborhoods.  The funds will be used to help clean up encampments, and to help prevent homelessness from happening in the first place. Sources of state and federal aid will be used to begin for ramping up construction of homes for the unhoused. The $24 million program would be the largest plan  of its kind in the United States to help combat homelessness.

If approved by the City Council, this will be the largest amount of funds allocated any Los Angeles mayor has allocated for homeless initiatives in a single year, said Matt Szabo, a deputy chief of staff in Garcetti’s office. Reported by KTLA

Mayor Garcetti has also proposed a $1,000 a month, no strings attached guaranteed basic income pilot in Los Angeles for the poor. Requirements for   participant households  to apply is still in the words and   could include supporting a child under the age of 18 along with a demonstrated medical or financial hardship requirement   due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor’s office said. Council districts of Los Angeles  would have a share of funding based on their poverty rate. Eligibility will be allowed  regardless of immigration status.

Photo: Flickr Mayor Garcetti