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LA needs to clean up its homeless mess before the Olympics. But City Hall’s plan should alarm everyone
Los Angeles City Council has approved an expanded homelessness response ahead of the 2028 Olympics, continuing an approach the opinion article argues has not reduced homelessness. It says the city should use the Games as a chance to develop lasting solutions for residents, rather than make a temporary effort to improve conditions for visitors.
The article says the plan would spend more on services and provide hotels or other housing without requiring sobriety or treatment. It cites the latest official count, which found nearly 45,200 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, a 3.4% rise this year, despite the city spending several hundred million dollars annually on services. It also points to San Francisco’s temporary street clearances before a 2023 visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping as an example of conditions quickly returning once crews left.
In short
- LA has approved more homelessness spending ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
- The latest count found nearly 45,200 people homeless, up 3.4%.
- The article calls for lasting solutions beyond a temporary clean-up.
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The case for
With homelessness affecting tens of thousands of people, the city has reason to expand services and offer accommodation without making sobriety or treatment a precondition; stable housing can give people a safer basis from which to address other needs. The Olympics could focus attention and resources on lasting support for residents, rather than leaving the issue to be addressed only when visitors arrive.
The case against
The rise in the official count despite substantial annual spending gives critics grounds to question whether expanding the same approach will produce better results. They may argue that accommodation and services should be tied to clear plans for treatment or other support, and that Olympic preparations risk prioritising a temporary improvement in street conditions over durable outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
Explained simply
Los Angeles has faced a large homelessness problem for years. People may be without a home while sleeping outdoors, staying in temporary accommodation or moving between places. The issue involves housing costs, poverty, health and access to support.
The city council sets local policy and approves spending, while city departments and service providers deliver support and housing. The 2028 Olympic Games will bring many visitors, putting attention on how the city’s streets and public spaces are managed.
Debates about homelessness often concern how to provide housing and services, and whether access should depend on taking part in treatment. The choices matter both to people experiencing homelessness and to the wider city, including whether efforts improve living conditions over time.