Dear ,

Homelessness is one of the most urgent moral and humanitarian crises facing our city, our State and our time. 

Its causes — from addiction and mental health setbacks, to domestic violence and war, to lack of affordable housing, systemic racism and economic insecurity— are as diverse and complex as the people who are grappling with it.  

But its solution is surprisingly simple: Housing. More affordable homes, for more people, more quickly. 

Angelenos know this crisis can’t be solved overnight — but the City and County of L.A., alongside our private and public partners, have spent the last 9.5 years of my time as Mayor working tirelessly to confront this crisis we inherited. We’ve secured unprecedented resources, reduced regulatory barriers and red tape, innovated solutions… and are still doing everything in our power to get our unhoused neighbors off the streets and safely into homes that offer healing, hope and security. 

Need a reminder that Los Angeles is a City of Angels? In 2016, we asked Angelenos to open their hearts, minds, and wallets to their unhoused neighbors in need by passing prop HHH. They stepped up with the compassion, love and generosity that defines our City and voted Yes to making $1.2 billion dollars in construction funding available so we could increase our annual production of supportive housing units by 600% … from about 300 a year, to over 2,000.

Now, after a busy and productive 2 years breaking new ground with public and private partners alike, we have more than 83 projects, with more than 5,000 units, being built all across our great city. Currently, we have 52 projects with over 3,300 supportive and affordable housing units open and operating. This rapid momentum, if continued, will result in more than 12,000 supportive and affordable housing units – 2,000 more than originally promised – available for those who need them most by 2026.

We set out to triple the number of new permanent supportive housing units to 1,000 units per year, but we’ve more than doubled that goal. In fact, we’ve doubled, redoubled, and nearly doubled again our production of supportive housing units — from about 300 units a year to over 2,000.

But the math doesn’t capture what these homes will mean to our neighbors who for too long lacked safety and stability. The dirt we’ve moved… the bricks we’ve placed… the tiles we’ve laid over these past few months will soon just be called home:

It took a pandemic – a crisis of its own – to open the door to creative new solutions to homelessness. The result? Over 2,383 fewer people will be living on the street in Los Angeles because of Homekey round one and two. That’s at least 2,383 more people who will have more than just a roof over their head… they have a fresh start, a new reason to hope… and a safe space for their family to dream again.

Today, Governor Newsom and I announced a critical new round of investment in project Homekey, with a $209 million investment for seven additional Homekey sites for the City of Los Angeles — resulting in 750 new permanent supportive housing units. To cement our commitment, the City will be providing an additional $157 million to ensure purchase costs for these seven sites are fully covered. 

In total, these investments in the second round of Homekey will allow the City and HACLA to acquire an additional 15 sites… and over 1,200 units… to get even more Angelenos off the streets, and into homes.

Our path to ending the homelessness crisis has not been an easy one. It has been full of twists and turns, some bumps in the road, and changing speed limits. It requires balancing speed with permanent – and high quality – solutions for our unhoused neighbors. 

Our goal through this entire journey has always been to house as many people as possible, and return our sidewalks and parks to the public. A mother and her child should not have to sleep in a tent on a sidewalk and a park is not a safe place for someone struggling with mental health problems. 

Ending homelessness is not an easy road. But nothing worth doing is ever easy. And so, we’ll stay the course, picking up the pace as we remove obstacles in our path. We’ll keep building. We’ll keep listening. We’ll keep innovating. We’ll keep faith. And together, we’ll get there – because there’s no city with more courage, creativity, determination or heart than our City of Angels. 

With love and strength,

Eric Garcetti
Your Mayor