RV Community Grows Near LA Housing Authority Despite Nearby Safe Parking Options

Growing RV Encampment Raises Concerns Outside LA Housing Authority Building

GARDENA, Calif. – An increasing number of RVs and buses have established a long-term encampment outside a Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) administrative building in Gardena. More than a dozen vehicles are being used as makeshift homes, prompting questions about the effectiveness of local outreach efforts.

Residents have set up camp along Hamilton Avenue, an industrial street that is marked with “No Parking” signs and notices referring to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 41.18, which aims to prohibit camping in certain areas. Despite these regulations, advocacy groups claim enforcement has been lax.

Cameron Flanagan, a homeless advocate and clinical therapist, expressed frustration with the situation. "41.18 is not being enforced. And right here is the Housing Authority, so why are these RVs out here?” he asked, highlighting a perceived disconnect between the rules and the realities faced by those living on the street.

Some residents report lengthy stays at the encampment. "This spot? Three months," stated a camper, while another woman indicated she had been living in her RV there for a year. When asked if anyone from the city or county had checked on her during her time there, she simply replied, "Not this time."

Directly behind the encampment is a city-supported overnight safe parking program run by the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) in partnership with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). "It’s a tale of two realities," noted FOX 11 reporter Matthew Seedorff, referring to the juxtaposition between those living in RVs and the 25 available parking spaces utilized by registered guests for legal overnight stays.

This safe parking program provides critical resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, costing approximately $365,000 annually. Shannon Murray, general manager of the homeless and housing services at WLCAC, emphasized the program’s benefits, including access to meals, case management services, restrooms, and security. However, she remarked that the encampment individuals have not taken up offers for assistance.

In a statement, the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services confirmed its awareness of the encampment and is coordinating with outreach teams and the Department of Public Works to connect those living there with resources and support. "We are actively coordinating with outreach teams and the LA County Department of Public Works to connect the individuals residing there with resources and support," the department stated.

HACLA defended its safe parking program, emphasizing its role in providing stability and access to services for those living in vehicles. The agency also noted that city regulations permit RV parking in the industrial zone and asserted that outreach workers routinely engage with individuals staying nearby.

Despite these efforts, critics argue that the situation underscores systemic failures in the region’s response to homelessness. Flanagan commented, “It says we have a broken system. They’re just like, ‘That’s my shift, I did what I could do,’ and that’s it, and they go home.”

County officials are set to address the issue by deploying outreach teams to the area, as awareness grows regarding the needs of those living outside HACLA.