Venice Takes Action: Massive Homeless Encampment Cleanup and Beautification Project

Los Angeles, June 7, 2023 - Council Member Traci Park of Los Angeles has taken the lead in a collaborative initiative with St. Joseph's Center, LAHSA, CIRCLE, and SHARE to carry out a comprehensive cleanup and beautification operation targeting the homeless encampments along Venice Boulevard, specifically between Pacific and Dell. Partnering with the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and Clean Harbors Environmental Inc., this joint effort tackles the prevalent issue of homelessness in the area while simultaneously focusing on enhancing the visual appeal of the surroundings.
As part of the operation, every unhoused individual was offered housing options, including A Bridge Home in Venice or SHARE!, an organization dedicated to providing affordable, permanent supportive housing to disabled individuals in single-family homes across Los Angeles County. Gratefully, around 40 unhoused individuals accepted the housing opportunities presented to them.
With its inception dating back to November 2005, SHARE! Collaborative Housing plays a vital role in Los Angeles by offering collaborative housing solutions through public-private partnerships. Currently, SHARE! manages over 40 houses in the Los Angeles Area, with support from key entities such as the L.A. County Department of Health Services, Council Member Traci Park, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the L.A. County Department of Mental Health.
After the successful completion of the cleanup, Beautify Venice, an informal neighborhood group, joined forces with Mariposa Landscapes Inc. to volunteer their time and passion in planting more than 200 native and drought-tolerant plants. This landscaping endeavor aims not only to enhance the visual aesthetics of the area but also to promote sustainable practices in urban environments. Indian Hawthorne, Matilija Poppys, and Fox Tail Agaves are among the diverse range of plants that have been introduced.
Driven by a collective community spirit, Beautify Venice, a grassroots group of neighbors, rallied together to secure funds for the purchase of plants and materials required to construct a protective fence. The fence not only protects the plants but also serves as a preventive measure to deter the return of homeless encampments along the sidewalks. Moreover, a professional landscape company was hired to ensure the successful implementation of the project. In a testament to their dedication, members of Beautify Venice volunteered their time to assist in the planting of the native drought-resistant plants.
Stringent safety measures were diligently observed throughout the cleanup process, with sanitation workers donning white hazardous materials suits as part of their standard protocol. The presence of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and Urban Alchemy provided valuable homeless outreach services during the operation.
Recognizing the significance of streamlined coordination among the various departments involved in addressing the homeless encampments, Councilwoman Traci Park's office has appointed a dedicated Homelessness and Housing Coordinator. This proactive step aims to facilitate a cohesive and efficient approach.
The motivation behind this extensive operation stems from the pressing health and safety concerns affecting both the unhoused individuals and the broader community. With instances of restrooms being repurposed as living spaces, the need for a comprehensive cleanup effort became urgent.
The cleanup operation entailed the collaboration of two distinct waste management teams. The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, identifiable by their yellow safety vests, partnered with Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc., whose members donned orange safety vests. The Clean Harbors team began the process by meticulously sorting through the debris, identifying and segregating hazardous waste items such as batteries, urine, syringes, and more. Once the hazardous waste was safely handled, sanitation workers from the Los Angeles Public Works took over to collect the remaining garbage.
In order to ensure the safety of all individuals involved and secure compliance from the unhoused population, Los Angeles Police Officers maintained a constant presence throughout the duration of the cleanup operation, which aimed to preserve cleanliness and hygiene in the area.
While the cleanup of homeless encampments on Venice Boulevard signifies a significant step towards improving public health and safety, it is vital to recognize that such initiatives alone cannot fully resolve the larger issue of homelessness. The City of Los Angeles remains steadfast in its commitment to implementing sustainable, long-term strategies that address the root causes of homelessness and provide essential resources.
The recent cleanup of homeless encampments on Venice Boulevard exemplifies the dedication of Council Member Traci Park and the city's commitment to enhancing public health and safety.