Avoiding a possible contempt ruling, L.A. agrees to increase homeless beds

"To avoid a possible federal contempt ruling, the Los Angeles City Council has agreed to extend by two years the city's commitment to maintain thousands of beds for homeless people and to shift its focus from removing street encampments to getting people indoors. The agreement, signed by all parties to the landmark case that is now in its sixth year, drops a requirement that the city remove 9,800 homeless encampments by next June."

"The city's obligation under the settlement to create 12,915 shelter or permanent housing beds by next June would be increased to 14,000, and the city would then have to maintain at least 12,915 through June of 2029. If Carter accepts the agreement, it would resolve three appeals the city has filed in the case, end a proceeding on whether to hold the city in contempt and lay to rest a dispute over how the city was counting encampment reductions."

"The L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, a group made up primarily of business and property owners who want cleaner streets, alleged in the 2020 lawsuit that the city had failed in its duty to address homelessness. Last year, the L.A. Alliance sought a contempt order contending that the city was willfully obfuscating to cover up inadequate efforts to live up to its settlement."

The Los Angeles City Council approved a settlement agreement to avoid federal contempt charges in a landmark homelessness case. The agreement extends the city's commitment to maintain homeless services through June 2029 and shifts priorities from removing 9,800 encampments to placing 19,600 homeless people into shelter or housing. The city must increase shelter and permanent housing beds from 12,915 to 14,000 by June 2026, then maintain at least 12,915 beds through 2029. The settlement resolves three city appeals, ends contempt proceedings, and settles disputes over encampment reduction counting. Judge David O. Carter scheduled a hearing to review the agreement.

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