Safe Haven Communities: The LA Model

Los Angeles cannot wait years to fix homelessness. With Safe Haven Communities, we meet people where they are—with dignity, safety, and real outcomes. This is not a sweep. It’s a system. And it’s how we start to restore both compassion and order to our streets. This plan outlines a phased, humane, and enforceable pathway to stabilize encampments, provide essential services, and transition people into permanent housing. We spend 10% of our city’s budget on 0.1% of our population. We need to see real progress.

  • Site Selection, Infrastructure, Layout

    1. At least one site per Council District, scaled to population need

    2. Prioritize city- or state-owned land (Caltrans, LAUSD, LADOT, Metro)

    3. Ensure proxfimity to transit, hospitals, or service clusters

    4. Fenced, secure perimeter with 24/7 staff and security

    5. Sections for personal tents, RVs, and shared dormitories for men, women, and families

  • Services in Every Safe Haven Community

    1. 24/7 bathrooms, showers, laundry, potable water, trash pickup, secure storage, and three daily meals.

    2. On-site medical care, mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and nutrition support.

    3. Dedicated case managers to connect residents to housing, benefits, and other services.

    4. Job training, apprenticeships, and direct links to employers and community colleges.

    5. Clear rules, curfews, and security to protect residents and surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Fast Deployment Strategy

    1. Phase 1: Stand up 5–7 sites in high-need areas using tents + RV parking zones

    2. Phase 2: Layer in prefab dorms and permanent service pods

    3. Phase 3: Tie every site to permanent housing via dedicated placement teams

    4. Activate emergency procurement and land-use powers to bypass delays

  • Tied Directly to Housing Production

    1. Each zone is part of a broader housing flywheel—creating visible progress off the streets

    2. Permanent housing options include modular developments on public land, master leases, shared housing, and ADUs

    3. Incentivize housing partners with vouchers, guarantees, and pre-approved pipelines

    4. No bottlenecks—people move forward, not in circles