Mayor Karen Bass Opens New Mental Health Center in Chinatown to Address Homelessness
Los Angeles Mayor Opens New Mental Health Care Center in Chinatown
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass inaugurated a new mental health care center in Chinatown on Tuesday, emphasizing its significance in the city’s ongoing effort to address homelessness.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Bass highlighted the importance of expanding mental health treatment and residential services, which she believes are crucial components in reducing homelessness. “Absolutely. This is one of the missing pieces — mental health and residential services,” Bass stated, noting that these services are particularly vital for young individuals aging out of foster care, who often “fall between the cracks.”
The event marked the first opportunity in several months for local media to pose questions to the mayor regarding homelessness in Los Angeles. When asked about her observations while driving through the city, Bass acknowledged the remaining challenges but pointed out the progress made. “Of course there are still encampments there. There are many more to remove, but we have removed many,” she said.
Bass reiterated that this marks the second consecutive year of a decline in street homelessness, despite skepticism from many residents. “There’s a lack of trust with these numbers — it’s not what people see,” noted a FOX 11 report. In response, Bass argued, “It’s exactly what you see if you live on a block, or you have a business where there was a large encampment, and that encampment is gone and hasn’t come back for years.”
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, homelessness in the area has indeed declined for two years. However, a recent audit has raised questions about the transparency regarding the distribution of the billions allocated for homelessness initiatives.
At the event, some homeless individuals near City Hall expressed their refusal of shelter offers, citing poor conditions. One man stated, “Yeah, I refuse it. Too many bed bugs. Thieves.” Another criticized the city’s Inside Safe initiative, claiming, “Inside Safe made a lot of money for this city using underutilized hotels… They spent a third of a billion dollars, and most of us are back where we started.”
When questioned about the potential need for increased funding for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Bass emphasized the necessity of improving the existing system rather than merely increasing its budget. “The question is we have to make sure the system runs better,” she said, acknowledging that significant problems need to be addressed for more effective outcomes.
As political pressure builds in the lead-up to the primary election, less than three months away, Bass remains steadfast in her assertion that progress is being made. However, when asked how she would evaluate her tenure as mayor, she declined to comment.
FOX 11 has been requesting a sit-down interview with Bass since before Christmas to discuss various pressing issues in the city. The outlet plans to continue its efforts to secure this engagement.
