In a bold move to combat Los Angeles' escalating housing crisis, Mayor Karen Bass has issued an expansion to Executive Directive 3, with the aim of accelerating the development of affordable housing and the clearance of RV encampments citywide. The directive, which now incorporates the use of publicly-owned land, promises to speed up the housing construction process by cutting through red tape. With more than 14,000 units of affordable housing already in the pipeline, the urgency of the homelessness crisis in LA has prompted this decisive action.
Mayor Bass, firmly grasping the gauntlet thrown by the housing shortfall, has directed the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Metro, and the Los Angeles Community College District to repurpose their underutilized lands to house the city's most vulnerable residents. "We will work closely with our public sector partners to build housing on underutilized lands to urgently confront the homelessness crisis," Mayor Bass told the Mayor's Office. The mayor also vowed to tackle RV encampments by creating a system for the proper disposal of surrendered vehicles.
Apart from bolstering housing construction, the expanded directive notably includes provisions for towing, storing, and dismantling RVs after residents have moved into more stable accommodations. The recent $33 million State grant, endorsed by the City Council, signposts a commitment to addressing the complex web of homelessness, providing up to 500 tiny home beds as an interim solution. Steps are also being taken to establish future sites for RV safe parking that will offer essential services to occupants.
This initiative coincides with Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins’ affirmation of the crucial benefits granted under ED3 for Metro's endeavors. "ED3 will boost Metro’s efforts to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing on Metro-owned land while reducing vehicle miles traveled and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000 metric tons annually," Wiggins asserted to the Mayor’s Office. Furthermore, in an alliance poised to tackle student housing insecurity, LACCD Board Vice President Sara Hernandez conveyed excitement about their role in the housing solution. "By granting eligibility to LACCD, the District will have more pathways and options for developing and accelerating approval for critical student housing initiatives," Hernandez shared with the Mayor's Office.
The expansion of Executive Directive 3 is a cornerstone of Mayor Bass's commitment to address homelessness head-on, a commitment made apparent when she declared a state of emergency on her first day in office. Since then, the administration has labored to chart a path forward, with the City Administrative Officer's analysis of over 3,000 potential sites leading to a substantial grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to bolster the directive's efforts. This expansion is seen as a critical step towards mitigating the plight of thousands of Los Angelinos living without stable shelter.
