Screenshot / YouTube, City of Los Angeles; Screenshot / YouTube, FOX40 News

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass made a plea to “the most fortunate” on Monday, asking them to help fund housing for the homeless as part of a new strategy to address the ongoing crisis.

“We will not hide people but what we will do is house people,” proclaimed the Democratic leader during her State of the City address, per Fox News.

She made her remarks on the city's challenge of providing housing for over 40,000 homeless individuals, emphasizing, “The crisis on our streets is nothing less than a disaster.”

Bass highlighted the achievement of her flagship Inside Safe program, which, as reported by The Associated Press, relocated over 21,000 homeless individuals into temporary shelters.

She argued that this “strategy” and “system” of transitioning the homeless into temporary housing would ultimately bring an end to the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.

Bass appealed to the affluent, urging them to assist in “expediting” housing purchases for the homeless while recognizing the expense involved in this endeavor.

“Right now, we're working to move past nightly rentals,” she elaborated. “We are urging the most fortunate Angelenos to join in this endeavor, using personal, private sector, and philanthropic funds – to aid us in acquiring more properties, reducing the cost of capital, and expediting housing.”

“This is the mission of our new capital campaign, LA4LA,” she introduced.

Bass emphasized that the homeless crisis has impacted every resident in the city, driving businesses and customers away, consuming city resources funded by taxpayers, and posing safety concerns. “I will just not accept this and our city can't afford to accept it,” she asserted.

The Democrat further stated that the success of the new program will rely on the “humanity and generosity of the private sector.” She added, “LA4LA can be a sea change for Los Angeles, an unprecedented partnership to confront this emergency, an example of disrupting the status quo to build a new system to save lives.”

Fox News reports that billions of dollars have been allocated towards addressing homelessness in the region, with numerous new programs implemented. However, the mayor acknowledges the possibility of the homeless population continuing to rise, citing factors such as evictions and the cessation of COVID-19 aid for low-income households.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the principal centralized hub for homeless services in the city, says the homeless population experienced a surge in 2023, the outlet highlights.

LAHSA's report indicated that over 75,500 individuals were classified as homeless countywide, reflecting a 9% increase. Approximately 46,200 people were identified as homeless within the city limits, marking a 10% rise from the previous year.

A coalition comprising business owners and residents in Los Angeles has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging a failure to fulfill its 2020 settlement agreement, which pledged the construction of thousands of shelters and clearance of homeless encampments.