The workers gather in a Venice Beach parking lot, then set out in small teams, backpacks filled with sandwiches, fruit, and bottled water. Their goal:

Cities grapple with homelessness, as tent clusters proliferate

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2021-08-11 06:00:12

The workers gather in a Venice Beach parking lot, then set out in small teams, backpacks filled with sandwiches, fruit, and bottled water. Their goal: to peacefully clear an encampment of homeless people by convincing them, over the course of many weeks, to leave their tents for more substantial housing.

It’s an exercise in patience, as cities all around the country grapple with homeless encampments, which have grown in size and number. The COVID-19 pandemic forced shelters to reduce occupancy, and while thousands of unhoused people were moved into hotels and motels, many others were simply displaced. To prevent viral spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended against breaking up the tent clusters.

The pandemic drove more homeless people into tents, and emergency public health measures allowed many to remain undisturbed. Now, localities are trying to find better housing and care solutions.

Now, the increasing visibility of the tents has put growing pressure on local politicians to “do something.” But the complexities of helping people with different needs and conditions are visible right here on the beach.

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