Vacant rooms raise more questions about L.A.'s pricy homeless housing program

On any given night, hundreds of hotel rooms sit empty across Los Angeles, despite being leased as interim housing for the city's homeless population through Mayor Karen Bass ' housing program, Inside Safe.

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This revelation came to light at the first monthly progress report mandated by the city council, which, despite facing a looming budget deficit, allocated an additional $80 million to Inside Safe contingent on receiving these regular updates on spending and effectiveness.

KNX News Craig Fiegener reports, the city currently leases 1,879 hotel rooms nightly for homeless housing. However, only 1,265 people are currently housed through the program.

This means hundreds of rooms intended for L.A.'s homeless population remain vacant.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez pointed to the empty rooms as evidence of the program's shortcomings.

"This is all city money," Rodriguez said during a budget committee meeting. "Why not allow for placement if you have a vacancy?" she questioned, advocating for swifter placement of homeless individuals.

Lourdes Castro Ramirez , the Mayor's housing chief, acknowledged the question but did not provide a clear explanation for the unused rooms. She expressed to Rodriguez that the situation was more complicated than she described and offered to follow up with her on the matter.

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