Campaigners and human rights organizations press local authorities to offer them a great housing alternative before evicting homeless people from parks. Shower of Hope and other organizations have helped the homeless in Los Angeles by providing showers. Along with People Assisting the Homeless, (Path), and the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority the group has asked authorities to think about the welfare of homeless persons before taking them out of the park. Civil rights groups and activists have raised awareness of the poor conditions faced by homeless people, and the need for the government to show respect. Colleen Murphy, along with other activists, have set up motels in the vicinity of McArthur Park to provide temporary accommodation for homeless persons. When the city used military police to expel homeless police officers from Echo Park which lies next to McArthur Park in March 2020, activists and humanitarian groups were critical. Nearly 200 protesters were detained by the police after they evicted McArthur Park’s homeless officers. McArthur Park’s homeless residents were evicted by the police with compassion and dignity thanks to advocacy groups.
Officials from the city are working with other groups to expel the homeless. Los Angeles officials stated that the park had been closed in order to make electrical repairs and improve landscaping and signage, as well as replace furniture and other furnishings. In order to comply with the requirements, the local government has deployed the police to expel all the homeless. To limit unsustainable increases in homeless persons, the municipal official employed the maintenance and closure. According to the government, evictions are an important measure that discourage homeless persons from occupying public properties.
Los Angeles: History of Unsheltered Living
Due to both historical and current circumstances, the city’s homeless population has been growing. Jim Crow Law in the United States was one of the most significant historical American regulations. It denied Latinos and blacks financial assistance to help build neighborhoods. People of color and minorities were also denied financial grants by discriminatory practices, such as the exclusive zoning. In the 20th Century, discriminatory homeownership was common. Homeowner’s Loan Corporation made maps showing each race’s exact location. (Sanjek 2017). Los Angeles has a growing homeless population due to discriminatory historical practices against blacks, including the construction of roads that forced black people from their homes, the segregated housing assistance system during the Great Depression and criminalization of minority communities. This discriminatory practice led to black residents living in areas that are less developed and isolated with limited transportation, healthcare, or other essential facilities. Levin (1921) says that Los Angeles’ current policies perpetuate and exacerbate systemic racism and cause disproportionate homelessness.