Q: Is this emergency homeless temporary housing only happening in Koreatown?
A: No. The Bridge Home program is an LA City wide initiative. That means emergency temporary housing facilities providing mental health and social services with 24-hr security and beds to the homeless with the goal of providing a bridge for them to get into permanent housing will happen across LA city districts. According to research conducted by KRC, the El Pueblo shelter, approved in March, is currently under construction and expected to open this Summer. This pilot project inspired the A Bridge Home initiative that the Koreatown shelter will be part of. Some argue that the community outreach in this shelter was exemplary, unlike Koreatown, which is debatable - up until the city council vote, there were disgruntled merchants arguing the same old argument being argued in Koreatown today.
Q: Where are the other City Council Districts?
A: Provided by KRC:
Q: Why does this have to happen in Koreatown?
A: According to data provided by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and confirmed by the United way, in LA City Council district 10 the Wilshire Center-Koreatown area had the highest number of people experiencing homelessness for three consecutive years in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Data shows that in 2018, over 144 persons live on the streets, tents, or in encampments in the Koreatown region.
Q: Why can't CD10 follow CD2's model of having a public hearing?
A: CD2 never held a public hearing regarding the Bridge Home program. CD2 held a townhall in January of this year to discuss the broader issue of homelessness in their district. Furthermore, not one district held a public hearing regarding the bridge home program and LA City is not required to do so.
Q: Where is due process and a public hearing?
A: Many anti-shelter folks have used this as their main argument. Due process is the legal requirement that respects the legal rights of persons. According to California Government Code 8698.4 and SB 2, the law does not state that a public hearing is required to place an emergency homeless facility in Koreatown. Many argue their constitutional rights have been violated, however, it's just not true. LA City Council President Herb Wesson passed motion on June 29 to conduct feasibility tests on sites and restart the community engagement process.
Q: The Anti-shelter group has claimed that KAC receives grants from the government, which is why KAC is not siding with them. Is this true?
A: KAC receives about $18,000/year from LA County specifically for our Alternative Dispute Resolution program. However, according to our records, KAC has publicly opposed government over 10 times in the past two years on both federal and local levels. KAC was the only organization to hold LA County accountable in the widely publicized misprinted Korean language ballot issue in a congressional election and again was the only organization that worked to hold the Mayor's office accountable for Korean Americans who were denied entry to a homeless solutions workshop this year.
By the way, KAC was the only Korean American organization to decline the invitation to attend the Mayor's press conference on May 2 at 682 S. Vermont and issued a public statement on May 3 expressing our concerns regarding the lack of inclusion of the Koreatown community. Also, supporting initiatives to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness is the right thing to do.
Q: Why is KAC supporting the Bridge Home program now?
A: KAC along with KYCC, Kheir, KFAM, KRC, and KIWA, with the support of the United Way worked with City Council District 10 to restart the community engagement process. Through a series of conversations, City Council District 10 has now agreed to:
* Evaluate sites which will include the City-owned LADOT parking lot located at 682 S. Vermont Avenue and the privately-owned lots at 923-937 S. Kenmore Avenue to determine if a property is suitable for development as a crisis and bridge housing facility in Koreatown; require the City staff to return with the findings; require a one year contract with two one year extensions (for a total of three years); require 24/7 private security and LAPD patrols of the site, including the surrounding businesses and residences; require the capability to provide culturally and language (i.e. Korean, Spanish, etc.) appropriate services for the site; and provide mental health, employment, addiction, housing placement services, and wellness resources.
* Create a Council District 10 Commission on Koreatown Homelessness to oversee and provide recommendations to the Council Office with respect to the crisis and bridge housing facility in Koreatown throughout its development and operations, including quarterly reports to the Council office. The Commission will also provide recommendations for the future long-term use of 682 S. Vermont Avenue which may include senior affordable/supportive housing. It should be noted that between 2017 and 2018, there was a 26 percent increase in seniors experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles.
* Evaluate the City-owned Council District 10 Office parking lot at 1819 S. Western Avenue to determine if the property is suitable for development as a second and separate crisis and bridge housing facility, which would include all of the same provisions as described above.
* Evaluate lots in the southern portion of Council District 10, working with religious institutions and City Departments to determine if properties are suitable for Safe Parking programs.
In the months leading up to these new temporary housing facilities opening, the County of Los Angeles will direct unprecedented outreach, mental health, career, and addiction support services to encampments in close proximity to the new facilities to help prepare homeless individuals to move indoors. Once a temporary housing facility opens and the homeless move in, the Bureau of Sanitation will also work to restore spaces in the community that were previous encampment sites into safe, clean, public passageways with special dedicated funding.
Furthermore, as part of the Koreatown solution, I am committed to holding a review of different sites and community workshops/meetings/gatherings in Koreatown during the summer prior to the City Council taking final action on a temporary housing facility.
Full text in English and Korean can be found here.
Q: Should people be concerned that this initiative will turn into a Skid Row-like situation in Koreatown?
A: Walk-ins are not available for this facility and will have 24-hr security on-site with additional LAPD foot patrols in the vicinity to ensure safety and security for the community.
A: No. The Bridge Home program is an LA City wide initiative. That means emergency temporary housing facilities providing mental health and social services with 24-hr security and beds to the homeless with the goal of providing a bridge for them to get into permanent housing will happen across LA city districts. According to research conducted by KRC, the El Pueblo shelter, approved in March, is currently under construction and expected to open this Summer. This pilot project inspired the A Bridge Home initiative that the Koreatown shelter will be part of. Some argue that the community outreach in this shelter was exemplary, unlike Koreatown, which is debatable - up until the city council vote, there were disgruntled merchants arguing the same old argument being argued in Koreatown today.
Q: Where are the other City Council Districts?
A: Provided by KRC:
- CD5 Paul Koretz: 11050 Santa Monica Blvd. for temp. homeless shelter
- CD13 Mitch O’Farrell: 1533 Schrader Blvd. for temp. homeless shelter
- CD 9 Curren Price: 5800 South Figueroa Street for temp. homeless shelter
- CD8 Marqueese Harris-Dawson: Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 85.02 for safe parking sites
- CD13 Mitch O’Farrell: Assessors Parcel Number 5404016900 and 5404016901 for permanent supportive housing
Q: Why does this have to happen in Koreatown?
A: According to data provided by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and confirmed by the United way, in LA City Council district 10 the Wilshire Center-Koreatown area had the highest number of people experiencing homelessness for three consecutive years in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Data shows that in 2018, over 144 persons live on the streets, tents, or in encampments in the Koreatown region.
Q: Why can't CD10 follow CD2's model of having a public hearing?
A: CD2 never held a public hearing regarding the Bridge Home program. CD2 held a townhall in January of this year to discuss the broader issue of homelessness in their district. Furthermore, not one district held a public hearing regarding the bridge home program and LA City is not required to do so.
Q: Where is due process and a public hearing?
A: Many anti-shelter folks have used this as their main argument. Due process is the legal requirement that respects the legal rights of persons. According to California Government Code 8698.4 and SB 2, the law does not state that a public hearing is required to place an emergency homeless facility in Koreatown. Many argue their constitutional rights have been violated, however, it's just not true. LA City Council President Herb Wesson passed motion on June 29 to conduct feasibility tests on sites and restart the community engagement process.
Q: The Anti-shelter group has claimed that KAC receives grants from the government, which is why KAC is not siding with them. Is this true?
A: KAC receives about $18,000/year from LA County specifically for our Alternative Dispute Resolution program. However, according to our records, KAC has publicly opposed government over 10 times in the past two years on both federal and local levels. KAC was the only organization to hold LA County accountable in the widely publicized misprinted Korean language ballot issue in a congressional election and again was the only organization that worked to hold the Mayor's office accountable for Korean Americans who were denied entry to a homeless solutions workshop this year.
By the way, KAC was the only Korean American organization to decline the invitation to attend the Mayor's press conference on May 2 at 682 S. Vermont and issued a public statement on May 3 expressing our concerns regarding the lack of inclusion of the Koreatown community. Also, supporting initiatives to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness is the right thing to do.
Q: Why is KAC supporting the Bridge Home program now?
A: KAC along with KYCC, Kheir, KFAM, KRC, and KIWA, with the support of the United Way worked with City Council District 10 to restart the community engagement process. Through a series of conversations, City Council District 10 has now agreed to:
* Evaluate sites which will include the City-owned LADOT parking lot located at 682 S. Vermont Avenue and the privately-owned lots at 923-937 S. Kenmore Avenue to determine if a property is suitable for development as a crisis and bridge housing facility in Koreatown; require the City staff to return with the findings; require a one year contract with two one year extensions (for a total of three years); require 24/7 private security and LAPD patrols of the site, including the surrounding businesses and residences; require the capability to provide culturally and language (i.e. Korean, Spanish, etc.) appropriate services for the site; and provide mental health, employment, addiction, housing placement services, and wellness resources.
* Create a Council District 10 Commission on Koreatown Homelessness to oversee and provide recommendations to the Council Office with respect to the crisis and bridge housing facility in Koreatown throughout its development and operations, including quarterly reports to the Council office. The Commission will also provide recommendations for the future long-term use of 682 S. Vermont Avenue which may include senior affordable/supportive housing. It should be noted that between 2017 and 2018, there was a 26 percent increase in seniors experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles.
* Evaluate the City-owned Council District 10 Office parking lot at 1819 S. Western Avenue to determine if the property is suitable for development as a second and separate crisis and bridge housing facility, which would include all of the same provisions as described above.
* Evaluate lots in the southern portion of Council District 10, working with religious institutions and City Departments to determine if properties are suitable for Safe Parking programs.
In the months leading up to these new temporary housing facilities opening, the County of Los Angeles will direct unprecedented outreach, mental health, career, and addiction support services to encampments in close proximity to the new facilities to help prepare homeless individuals to move indoors. Once a temporary housing facility opens and the homeless move in, the Bureau of Sanitation will also work to restore spaces in the community that were previous encampment sites into safe, clean, public passageways with special dedicated funding.
Furthermore, as part of the Koreatown solution, I am committed to holding a review of different sites and community workshops/meetings/gatherings in Koreatown during the summer prior to the City Council taking final action on a temporary housing facility.
Full text in English and Korean can be found here.
Q: Should people be concerned that this initiative will turn into a Skid Row-like situation in Koreatown?
A: Walk-ins are not available for this facility and will have 24-hr security on-site with additional LAPD foot patrols in the vicinity to ensure safety and security for the community.