The Los Angeles City Council approved three separate motions this week, each regarding housing and homelessness.

Anti-Camping Ordinance Expansion in Section of the Westside

L.A. City Council voted Tuesday to expand its anti-camping ordinance, predominantly in the Westside’s 11^th Council District. Expanded restrictions will include banning sitting, sleeping, and storing property within 500 feet of recreation centers, several parks, and other facilities. The new language builds on existing language that had already added schools and child care centers to the ordinance.

In the motion, the council states that the public health, safety, or welfare is served by the ban, and further finds that sleeping, or lodging within the stated proximity to the designated areas is unhealthy, unsafe, or incompatible with safe passage.

The locations included are:

• Freeway 1-10 / Centinela Avenue – Freeway Underpass
• 501 S Venice Boulevard – Venice of America Centennial Park – Public Park
• 6660 Esplanade Place – Del Rey Lagoon – Public Park
• 1233 Rose Avenue – Penmar Golf Course – Public Park Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve – Public Park
• 11301 Wilshire Boulevard – West Los Angeles VA Medical Center – Designated Facility
• 2467 Lincoln Boulevard – Journey Apartments – Designated Facilities

Increased Rental Assistance for Residents in the Westside’s 5^th Council District

In a motion brought forth by the 5th Council District’s Katy Yaroslavsky and the Valley’s Bob Blumenfield, subject to approval of the mayor, the city council voted to approve additional funding for tenants in the 5th Council District to prevent residents from falling into homelessness.

District residents will be able to apply for personal loans and grants associated with rental assistance and housing-related costs through the Jewish Free Loan Association.

The motion states District Five has seen some of the highest total numbers of “Notices to Quit,” which can presage an eviction. In the past three months, the district has had around 1,800 notices go out as a result of non-payment of rent.

“While the measure ULA Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the work of the Mayor’s Fund have provided much-needed support systems to renters, there remains a substantial need in the fifth district for additional funding to prevent more tenants from falling into homelessness,” the motion states.

Action to Crack Down on Rise in Illegal Hostels

On Wednesday, the city council voted 14-0 to approve a motion to crack down on the rapid increase in illegal hostels in L.A.

Councilmember Heather Hutt, who represents the 10th District, which surrounds Mid-City, introduced the motion on October 25. According to the motion, there has been an uptick of unpermitted hostels throughout the 10th district, particularly Mid-City.

It further states that at least 28 properties in the 10th district have caused great consternation and harm to neighbors. There have been heightened calls for service to the police department, and the range of issues is extensive and very serious.

Neighbors constantly complain about drug abuse, physical violence, thefts, and burglaries, as well as a range of other crimes.

The motion calls for the creation of an enforcement task force to pilot an illegal hostel enforcement area in the Mid-City neighborhood and nearby Mid-City Neighborhood Council.

Hostels are being operated in residential zones and violate city law, as operating a hostel within 500 feet of residential or agricultural zones is not allowed, according to the motion.

The motion also instructs the Department of City Planning with the Department of Building and Safety as well as the Los Angeles Housing Department, and the city attorney to prepare a report with recommendations to take immediate action on illegal hostels, and for the Los Angeles Police Department, DCP, Los Angeles Fire Department as well as LAHD to create a taskforce to pilot an illegal hostels enforcement area in the Mid-City neighborhood and Mid-City Neighborhood Council area.

In 1992, the city adopted a law that regulated hostels, defining them as “A one-family dwelling, boarding, or rooming house, dormitory, apartment hotel or apartment house which is advertised as a hostel or which is listed with any recognized national or international hostel organization.”

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy from Unsplash.com