- “We are seeing real results in LA — with street homelessness declining two years in a row — and partnerships like this only continue that momentum. Together, we will end this humanitarian crisis.” – Mayor Karen Bass
LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom’s State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force partnered with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County this week to dismantle a large encampment along the 110 Freeway and connect residents with shelter and supportive services.
The operation marked the task force’s first effort in Southern California and highlighted the Governor’s broader strategy to address homelessness across the state.
The encampment, located on state right-of-way adjacent to a residential neighborhood and near a busy freeway corridor, had been considered unsafe for habitation. State and local officials said it was both a public safety hazard and a serious health risk for the individuals living there.
Outreach began on Sept. 19 and city and county agencies delivered services to the roughly 40 residents starting Sept. 23. On Sept. 24, Caltrans cleared the site, removing debris, hazardous waste, and collecting personal belongings for storage.
The agency also announced it would install landscaping and fencing to prevent the encampment from being reestablished.
In total, crews removed approximately 340 cubic yards of debris — about the size of three shipping containers.
The operation also featured a nearby resource fair where people previously living in encampments were connected with healthcare services, housing assistance, and identification documents from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which are often required for securing permanent housing.
Governor Newsom praised the partnership between the state, city, and county.
“No one should live in a dangerous or unsanitary encampment, and we will continue our ongoing work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home,” Newsom said. “We stand strongest when we stand together — today, we are proud to work with our partners in Los Angeles to pair urgency with dignity and get people the help they need and deserve. California has built a strong system to address homelessness, and it is helping us turn this nationwide crisis around.”
Mayor Bass said Los Angeles has seen early signs of progress in addressing homelessness, crediting Inside Safe, the city’s flagship initiative.
“We are seeing real results in LA – with street homelessness declining two years in a row – and partnerships like this only continue that momentum. Together, we will end this humanitarian crisis,” Bass said.
The SAFE Task Force was established after Newsom issued an executive order in 2024 following a Supreme Court ruling that eliminated legal ambiguities around encampment removals. The ruling affirmed state and local authority to clear encampments, provided officials offer adequate notice and support to affected residents. Newsom then directed state agencies to develop a model for humane encampment resolution that combines cleanup with immediate access to housing and services.
The task force integrates resources from across state agencies, focusing on emergency management, healthcare, behavioral health, housing support, and public safety. Its mandate is to prioritize encampments on state rights-of-way in California’s ten most populous cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Long Beach, Anaheim, Bakersfield, and Fresno.
Officials said the Los Angeles operation demonstrates the model’s effectiveness: all 40 individuals at the 110 Freeway encampment accepted housing and services. Caltrans’ follow-up measures are designed to ensure the area remains safe and uninhabited.
State leaders framed the work as part of a structural approach to reversing decades of rising homelessness. Newsom has tied the SAFE Task Force to a larger set of reforms, including accelerating housing construction, expanding mental health and substance use treatment through voter-approved Proposition 1, and holding local governments accountable for encampment management.
California reported that, while homelessness increased nationally by more than 18% in 2024, the state held its overall increase to 3%, a lower rate than in 40 other states. The growth of unsheltered homelessness was held to 0.45%, compared to a national rise of nearly 7%. State data also showed California achieved the largest reduction in veteran homelessness and reductions in youth homelessness.
Los Angeles, the state’s largest city, has been at the center of these efforts. Initial reporting indicates an 8% drop in unsheltered homelessness in the city, with overall homelessness declining for two consecutive years — the first such decline in decades. Inside Safe has resolved more than 100 entrenched encampments across every council district and brought thousands of people indoors. The city also increased its year-round shelter bed count by more than 7.5% in the last year.
Los Angeles has also benefited from state investments under Proposition 1, with $1.58 billion allocated to expand behavioral health infrastructure, housing, and treatment services. Officials said these investments are targeted toward the most vulnerable individuals, including those struggling with severe mental illness or substance use disorders.
Between 2014 and 2019, before Newsom took office, unsheltered homelessness in California rose by about 37,000 people. State officials said that under the Governor’s leadership, California has slowed that growth even as other states saw worsening trends. Newsom has argued that without the state’s investments and coordinated efforts, the crisis would be significantly worse.
The Governor’s office noted that the SAFE Task Force is not just about removing encampments, but about creating a lasting model. The administration is working to expand housing supply, fund shelters and permanent supportive housing, update conservatorship laws, and launch the CARE Court system to address mental health issues at the root of chronic homelessness.
Officials said the Los Angeles operation was an example of the “urgency with dignity” approach that Newsom has promoted — pairing encampment removals with direct access to care, housing, and long-term support. They pointed to reductions in street homelessness in Los Angeles as evidence that this strategy is beginning to produce measurable results.
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