Temporary Trailers Will House Homeless in Downtown L.A.

If approved, a City Council motion would mark a shift in how Los Angeles deals with a rising number of homeless residents.

1 minute read

January 23, 2018, 11:00 AM PST

By Katharine Jose


Los Angeles

Stephen zeigler / Wikimedia Commons

Last week, Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar introduced a motion to create temporary housing for the homeless in five trailers on a downtown lot owned by the city.

From the Los Angeles Times:

If approved by the City Council, the initiative to provide temporary shelter would mark a new strategy for the city, which has focused primarily on encouraging the construction of permanent housing through $1.2 billion in voter-approved bonds.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has recently given "some hints" about the change in policy.

In an interview last week on KNX-AM, Garcetti challenged City Council members to find places in their districts for more temporary housing, saying the city needs sites for 'not just permanent housing, but for shorter-term shelter, pop-up shelters, pop-up housing, with those dollars that we have.'

In the recent past, the city has made a number of other efforts to address housing as its homeless population rose for a number of years, and then leapt a full 23 percent in 2017.

The most recent initiative to address homelessness is a proposed ordinance that would make it easier to convert hotels and motels into transitional housing.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Converted garage to housing unit in London, UK.

Grand Rapids Mayor Proposes Garage Conversion Plan

The mayor says allowing homeowners to convert garages to dwelling units could alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

30 minutes ago - Fox 17

Curb cut at corner of sidewalk with yellow panel with bumps to indicate wheelchair ramp.

Baltimore Ordered to Improve Sidewalk Accessibility

The city is one of many to face lawsuits for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio

Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab