CHAIR HORVATH RESPONDS TO GRANTS PASS DECISION
June 28, 2024
Los Angeles, CA – Following the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision this morning, Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission, shares:
“This morning’s Supreme Court Grants Pass ruling green lights the criminalization of homelessness. This gut punch of a decision comes on the day we unveil our point in time count results.
This is unconscionable. And it is not an effective solution.
We know what works in Los Angeles County—partnership, accountability, scrutinizing the status quo, and aligning all resources.
It is not arrest. It is not pushing people from community to community.
As the Chair of LAHSA and the Board of Supervisors I want to be crystal clear:
The criminalization of homelessness and poverty is dangerous. It does not work. And it will not stand in Los Angeles County. This is a time to unite efforts to continue the positive momentum we have built over the last year and a half.
Let’s prove that humane approaches are what work.”
July 30, 2024
Following a presentation at the July 30, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting, Chair Horvath shared the following statement:
“Los Angeles County has the responsibility to lead a cross-jurisdictional approach to homelessness that works. Our Homeless Count results demonstrate that we are moving in a positive direction.
With the recent Grants Pass decision, we can’t let confusion or frustration turn to criminalization.
We all agree that encampments are frustrating, but let’s be clear: jails becoming de facto housing and shelter is not the answer.
We’ve learned too much over the last year and a half of our homelessness emergency to go back to a way that didn’t work—not for our independent cities; not for the County; and not for our unhoused neighbors who are counting on us.
Moving urgently on regional coordination, compassionate encampment resolutions, housing, services, and care are the solutions that work and are the best investment of public funds.”
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