Los Angeles has finally discovered the panacea that will cure the city’s crippling homeless problem: paying property owners to build guest houses in their backyards.
According to Los Angeles Times, the county Board of Supervisors approved back in August a “$550,000 pilot program to build a handful of small backyard houses, or upgrade illegally converted garages, for homeowners who agree to host a homeless person or family.”
“Rents under the county’s pilot program would be covered by low-income vouchers, with tenants contributing 30% of their incomes,” reports the Times. “The county is also sponsoring a design competition, streamlining permits and providing technical aid and financing options.”
Since 2016, the city has been experimenting with low-cost design options to erect these guest houses in people’s backyards. One such unit could be seen in the hipster-haven of Highland Park at 35-year-old Trent Wolbe’s house.
“This is all about adding [housing] stock to a neighborhood that has gotten out of reach for everyone,” said Wolbe.
The homeless population in Los Angles exceeds 58,000 people, and though residents have been taxed $1.2 billion to house them, units still remain unaffordable and scant. Over 10,000 new apartments must be erected, which will take years to complete.
“People are looking at what they can do to make our neighborhoods more affordable and help more Angelenos find stable places to live,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “That’s why [backyard units] are attracting so much interest — they’re a relatively low-cost way for homeowners to play a big part in expanding our city’s housing stock, and make some extra money while they’re at it.”
For now, Angelenos seem intrigued by the option, with about 100 of the first 500 homeowners contacted with the proposal showing interest. More from the Times:
Unlike Summers’ houses — brightly colored sheds with locks and lighting but no bathrooms or kitchens — the new dwellings would have plumbing and cooking facilities. Tenants would be screened and receive social services that could include case management, job training and counseling.
The city’s proposal to Bloomberg was “designed to pair homeowners with homeless Angelenos who are stable, prepared to move in to housing, and ready to get their lives back on track,” Garcetti said.
In Orange County, proposals have been made to create homeless encampments in empty lots. The proposal has not gone over well with residents, who have been protesting ever since.
More than $70 million has been spent to house the homeless in Orange County, which will involve both building permanent housing and possible camps in Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach on county-owned land. In response, the Irvine City Council will be suing the county to stop the proposal following a unanimous vote on Tuesday.
Irvine’s Mayor Donald P. Wagner wondered aloud at a special meeting how setting up public homeless camps will solve the problem. Other Orange County residents feel that the supervisors should look elsewhere: Los Angeles.