Los Angeles County Officials to Remove and Rehome Nearly 600 Homeless People Living Along 105 Freeway

Los Angeles County officials are gearing up for a massive effort to remove and rehome nearly 600 homeless individuals living along the 105 Freeway. The county’s Pathway Home program has received a $51.5 million state grant to assist those living near the freeway and nearby riverbeds in securing safe housing and receiving essential services over the next three years.

The communities along the 105 Freeway corridor from West Athens to Norwalk are home to one of the largest groups of encampments in California. County officials have highlighted the disproportionate impact of homelessness and poverty on the surrounding cities, as well as the potential danger posed by flooding in the area.

Crews will be focusing on clearing encampments where homeless individuals are living in tents, RVs, and other makeshift structures. The primary focus will be on the area where the freeway crosses the L.A. and San Gabriel Rivers. Pathway Home workers will be relocating the unhoused individuals to secure interim housing such as motel rooms and master leasing permanent housing. Additionally, crews will be working to dispose of around 60 unsafe and uninhabitable recreational vehicles.

The approved funds will also cover rental subsidies, housing navigation, case management, life skills development, and other essential services. The project is expected to impact several nearby communities, including West Athens, Willowbrook, Downey, Norwalk, South Gate, Lynwood, Santa Fe Springs, and Los Angeles, as well as areas near various L.A. Metro stations.

“This money, along with the collaboration we are seeing at the local level, is essential to the continued success of L.A. County’s Pathway Home program,” stated L.A. County supervisor Holly Mitchell. “We are removing more disabled RVs and, most importantly, urgently working to provide housing and stability to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

The efforts are being funded through the Encampment Resolution Funds following a joint application by county officials and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The Pathway Home program has already assisted 562 individuals in moving into interim housing and 95 individuals in securing permanent housing since its launch in August 2023. Additionally, the program has contributed to the removal of 302 unsafe RVs from public roadways.

The grant from the state of California, along with the continued support from Governor Newsom, is crucial as the county moves forward with its emergency response to homelessness. The collaboration and resources provided will enable L.A. County to build on the successes of the Pathway Home program and continue bringing individuals experiencing homelessness indoors.