Is LA’s Skid Row Initiative Working?
The 18-month old LAPD and City of LA initiative to increase police enforcement in downtown Los Angeles’ skid row area is getting looked at again. This initiative brought in 50 additional police officers to clean up the streets.
Statistics show that after a significant decrease in violent crime at the start of the initiative, called “Safer Cities Initiative”, violent crime has now remained flat. However, property crime has increased 60% over the last year. Officials say it is because more affluent renters and owners are moving into the area, providing more temptation for property crime.
At the start of this initiative, the numbers of homeless people dropped significantly. But now statistics show that the number has leveled off. An LA Times article states that business owners are even saying that they see an increase in encampments.
A couple of thoughts:
First, before the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) started, PATH was asked to lead a coalition of agencies to start a jail diversion program in Central City called “Streets or Services” (SOS). This allowed police officers to give people who were homeless an alternative to jail—services and housing. When SCI brought in 50 police officers into this area, SOS was overwhelmed with people. This small 2 person team that was designed before SCI, now had to meet the needs that should have been a 10 person team.
I give this background, because some thought SOS was part of SCI, and should have more effectively handled the need to help homeless people who were caught up in the SCI police activities. SOS was a small program to help before SCI started. A new SOS proposal is now going out to bid. My feeling is that these funds would be better used toward building permanent affordable housing.
Second, will the LAPD keep the 50 additional officers in skid row? Especially knowing that the rest of the city desperately needs more officers? If not, will skid row just return back to its old “bad” ways?
Only time will tell.
Statistics show that after a significant decrease in violent crime at the start of the initiative, called “Safer Cities Initiative”, violent crime has now remained flat. However, property crime has increased 60% over the last year. Officials say it is because more affluent renters and owners are moving into the area, providing more temptation for property crime.
At the start of this initiative, the numbers of homeless people dropped significantly. But now statistics show that the number has leveled off. An LA Times article states that business owners are even saying that they see an increase in encampments.
A couple of thoughts:
First, before the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) started, PATH was asked to lead a coalition of agencies to start a jail diversion program in Central City called “Streets or Services” (SOS). This allowed police officers to give people who were homeless an alternative to jail—services and housing. When SCI brought in 50 police officers into this area, SOS was overwhelmed with people. This small 2 person team that was designed before SCI, now had to meet the needs that should have been a 10 person team.
I give this background, because some thought SOS was part of SCI, and should have more effectively handled the need to help homeless people who were caught up in the SCI police activities. SOS was a small program to help before SCI started. A new SOS proposal is now going out to bid. My feeling is that these funds would be better used toward building permanent affordable housing.
Second, will the LAPD keep the 50 additional officers in skid row? Especially knowing that the rest of the city desperately needs more officers? If not, will skid row just return back to its old “bad” ways?
Only time will tell.
(Pic from latimes.com)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
10:06 AM
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