A cleaned-up homeless encampment resurfaces in Downtown LA, city tries again

Los Angeles city officials led an operation on Monday, May 20, in historic El Pueblo around Olvera Street to help bring people off the streets after an encampment reemerged.

Councilmember Kevin de León, who represents the 14th District, which includes the impacted downtown area, helped organize the operation. It aims to bring 40 to 45 individuals living on the streets — bounded by Spring Street on the west, Alameda Street on the east, Cesar Chavez on the north and Aliso Street on the south — into temporary housing and offer them supportive services.

According to his office, de León’s staff has been engaging with unhoused residents in the area for the past several weeks. They’ve been informing them about the operation and identifying special care. Staff members have also worked to identify housing resources in tiny home villages, bridge housing, mental health beds, detox and rehabilitation and other housing programs, according to de León’s office.

In January 2023, a similar operation in this same area led to about 115 individuals being removed from the streets and into some form of housing. However, the encampment came back.

The councilman is expected to enact the city’s anti-camping law, also known as a 41.18 zone, to prevent the encampment from coming back and have Los Angeles Police Department officers enforce the rule.

The streets and sidewalks in the area are expected to be cleared of trash and debris that has accumulated, as well as sanitized. The operation and cleaning is expected to continue through tomorrow.