An Inside Safe operation cleared a homeless encampment in the Canoga Park area Tuesday, bringing the unhoused individuals into nearby hotel rooms.
Mayor Karen Bass and Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who represents the Third District, which encompasses West San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, said an Inside Safe operation concluded earlier Tuesday near the intersection of Canoga Avenue and Vanowen Street.
“In preparation of the winter season, it was important to get our unhoused community members into motel rooms. The folks we were able to move indoors today considered themselves a family unit and were thrilled that they would be able to celebrate the holidays together, in an inside, safe, environment,” Blumenfield said in a statement. “Thank you to Mayor Bass and her team for diligently working with service providers to continue to offer life-saving housing to Angelenos.”
It wasn’t immediately disclosed how many unhoused individuals were brought inside.
The mayor’s Inside Safe is an initiative that began in December 2021 to address encampments and to prevent encampments from returning.
“Our Inside Safe program continues to address encampments across the city and we are expanding to ensure that we can bring people inside from encampments of all sizes,” Bass said in a statement. “Today’s operation further proves that people want to move inside and receive supportive services to start a new chapter of their lives.”
According to the mayor’s office, the operation was the 31st in the city. The initiative has brought more than 1,800 Angelenos inside to motels.
Bass’ administration is “focused on housing more people and also building housing faster” — with more than 8,000 units of affordable housing expedited in the city, the mayor’s office said in a statement.