MOTION-- As of June 3, 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been attributed to 57,118
documented cases and 2,443 deaths in Los Angeles County. The pandemic and subsequent
emergency orders, such as California's Stay-At-Home Order, have placed an unprecedented
strain on the welfare and resources of residents and governmental bodies.

Of particular concern during this crisis is the City's vulnerable population of persons
experiencing homelessness. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported 36,165
homeless individuals in the City of Los Angeles in their 2019 Homeless Count. This group, and
especially the older adults and those with preexisting health conditions, face additional
challenges in preventing the spread of COVID-19 as they are more susceptible to the
dangerous symptoms of the disease and have no home in which to shelter in place.

The State, County, and City have taken strong action to prevent COVID-19 from devastating
this population. On March 18, 2020, Governor Newsom announced that the State would
purchase 1,300 trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to shelter
the homeless. The City of Los Angeles also took action on March 18 to transition 20 recreation
centers into emergency shelters. Combined these sites have housed approximately 1,000
homeless individuals.

Additionally, on April 3, Governor Newsom, in a partnership with FEMA, launched Project
Roomkey, an initiative to secure 15,000 hotel and motel rooms throughout the State for isolating
the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. Subsequent to this announcement,
the County announced its own goal of procuring an additional 15,000 hotel rooms to house
homeless individuals. Currently, Project Roomkey has housed approximately 3,500 individuals
experiencing homelessness.

As the State takes steps toward relaxing emergency measures, the City must develop a plan to
coordinate the efforts of City departments to provide essential resources to our current
homeless population, prevent and respond to future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other diseases,
and ensure that the crisis does not lead to a new wave of residents becoming homeless. The
City should work alongside the County’s and LAHSA’s current efforts to immediately develop a
plan to ensure these vulnerable homeless residents have safe housing to transition into and do
not end up back on the street after the immediate threat from the pandemic has subsided. The
services and housing temporarily provided to homeless individuals during the pandemic must
continue as the economy reopens, with options for temporary, bridge and permanent housing
and supportive services after the Local Emergency Declaration has ended. This COVID-19
Homelessness Recovery Roadmap should have a particular focus on providing housing for
everyone age 65 and above during and after the pandemic situation.

I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request the Los Angeles Homeless Services
Authority, in collaboration with the City’s Homeless Coordinator, the Chief Legislative Analyst,
and the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health,
and philanthropy to develop a COVID-19 Homelessness Recovery Roadmap that would
coordinate City and County departments and resources to provide essential services and
housing to the homeless population, prevent and respond to future outbreaks of disease, and
prevent residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis from becoming homeless, with a particular
focus on housing all residents over the age of 65.

I FURTHER MOVE that the City Council instruct the City Administrative Officer to identify
existing resources, including the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund, to support the COVID-19
Homelessness Recovery Roadmap.