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Last year I wrote about how, three years after Angelenos voted for Prop HHH to build supportive housing and lift people out of homelessness, zero units had been opened.
Let's check in on HHH -- and some ways we can prioritize supportive housing. (thread) https://mailchi.mp/e549f33a2624/canvassing-kick-off-3819761?e=9cd23a1731
Let's check in on HHH -- and some ways we can prioritize supportive housing. (thread) https://mailchi.mp/e549f33a2624/canvassing-kick-off-3819761?e=9cd23a1731
We were promised Prop HHH would build 10,000 units of supportive housing within 10 years.
But we will not get close. Projects have been stalled, contributing to huge increases in construction costs. We're now expected to get only 5,723 supportive units. https://laist.com/2019/10/08/prop_hhh_homeless_housing_audit.php
But we will not get close. Projects have been stalled, contributing to huge increases in construction costs. We're now expected to get only 5,723 supportive units. https://laist.com/2019/10/08/prop_hhh_homeless_housing_audit.php
Citywide, only 89 new supportive units from HHH are currently in service. 1,403 are under construction, and 4,231 are in pre-development to open by 2024.
Meanwhile, the number of people homeless in the city rose by more than 5,100 just last year. https://www.lamayor.org/summary-hhh-pipeline
Meanwhile, the number of people homeless in the city rose by more than 5,100 just last year. https://www.lamayor.org/summary-hhh-pipeline
Why has HHH produced so many fewer units than promised?
Had city leaders moved quickly to allocate sites, rezone them, and cut red tape, we could have come much closer to meeting our goals.
Instead, they chose to *add* regulations that would slow the process and increase costs.
Had city leaders moved quickly to allocate sites, rezone them, and cut red tape, we could have come much closer to meeting our goals.
Instead, they chose to *add* regulations that would slow the process and increase costs.
The underperformance of Prop HHH is just one example of LA’s city culture of overpromising. We are *always* promised more than we get, especially on homelessness.
Overpromising erodes trust in leadership. And that's a major problem when we need voters to pass new housing funds.
Overpromising erodes trust in leadership. And that's a major problem when we need voters to pass new housing funds.
HHH isn’t the only recent supportive housing push that came up short. In 2018, every councilmember pledged to approve 222 units by 7/1/2020.
Even though 222 units per district is far short of what we need, six councilmembers didn't even meet that goal. https://twitter.com/EveryoneIn_LA/status/1281368084121411584?s=20
Even though 222 units per district is far short of what we need, six councilmembers didn't even meet that goal. https://twitter.com/EveryoneIn_LA/status/1281368084121411584?s=20
One major obstacle to building supportive housing in Los Angeles is finding and allocating appropriate land.
One way around this process: using some of the 7,500 properties across LA that the city already owns. https://lacontroller.org/data-stories-and-maps/propertypanel/
One way around this process: using some of the 7,500 properties across LA that the city already owns. https://lacontroller.org/data-stories-and-maps/propertypanel/
United Way’s @EveryoneIn_LA program has been advocating for the use of city-owned land, especially under-utilized parking lots, to build supportive housing.
In this homelessness emergency , we should be maximizing the use of every city property we can. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-parking-lots-housing-20180209-story.html
In this homelessness emergency , we should be maximizing the use of every city property we can. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-parking-lots-housing-20180209-story.html
Another use of LA’s public land we should be reevaluating? Golf courses.
The city of Los Angeles currently operates twelve golf courses on public land, including seven 18-hole courses. That isn’t an efficient use of public land or our limited green space. https://www.golf.lacity.org
The city of Los Angeles currently operates twelve golf courses on public land, including seven 18-hole courses. That isn’t an efficient use of public land or our limited green space. https://www.golf.lacity.org
LA is facing a massive homelessness crisis, made worse by the pandemic.
But we're also one of the wealthiest cities in the world. We have vast resources at our disposal.
If we don’t move urgently and use resources now, the crisis will end up costing us much more in the future.
But we're also one of the wealthiest cities in the world. We have vast resources at our disposal.
If we don’t move urgently and use resources now, the crisis will end up costing us much more in the future.
