Los Angeles County supervisors are poised to approve a program that will identify the 50 most vulnerable homeless people on downtown's skid row and move them within 100 days into apartments with readily accessible support services.
The program, patterned after projects underway in New York City and elsewhere, is not only aimed at saving the lives of those most likely to die on the streets, but also is expected to save taxpayers the millions of dollars typically spent on people who cycle in and out of shelters, jails and emergency rooms.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 60 words Type of Material: Correction
Homeless: An article in Monday's California section about a Los Angeles County proposal for helping 50 of the most vulnerable homeless people on downtown's skid row misquoted Philip Mangano of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. He was quoted as saying the chronically homeless are "fragile in terms of both fiscal and psychological health." He actually said "physical," not "fiscal."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 41 words Type of Material: Correction
Homeless program: An article in the Nov. 19 California section stated incorrectly that the homeless advocacy organization Common Ground provides traditional shelter-type housing for homeless people. The organization provides mainly permanent housing with social services, as well as long-term transitional housing.
"A lot of these folks fall through the cracks when they go through the shelters," said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, a major proponent of the project. "If we can't make this work, then we've got a problem."
On Tuesday, the board will probably approve two contracts with homeless advocacy groups to provide training and housing for the program. Four of the five supervisors have indicated they support the program.
The county has struggled to address the vast homelessness problem. A year ago, supervisors approved an unprecedented $100-million homeless initiative, anchored by five regional assistance centers. But the program faltered after communities balked at the prospect of homeless people coming to their neighborhoods. The county quietly switched gears, deciding instead to fund private organizations and smaller efforts, such as a housing program for families on skid row.
The county's slow progress has fueled skepticism from some.
Many of the details of Project 50 -- including cost, staffing and location -- have yet to be worked out. The board is expected to ask Tuesday for a more detailed plan within 30 days.
About one-third of the county's roughly 70,000 homeless people are classified as chronically homeless -- meaning they have lived on the streets for a year or more and have disabilities such as AIDS or mental illness.
Many experts say placing the chronically homeless in permanent housing with social services nearby is more effective than providing them with temporary shelter and more effective than requiring them to get sober before finding them housing. The numbers back up that position: 85% of homeless people living in supportive housing stay off the streets, said Gary Blasi, a UCLA law professor who has studied homelessness.
