Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled Project Roomkey. This initiative intends to secure 15,000 hotel and motel rooms in order to shelter homeless people across the state. Los Angeles County, which is home to the largest unsheltered population in the state, is setting up its own plan to get an additional 15,000 rooms in the county alone. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is leading the efforts to carry out this measure, with the help of Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, in order to bring shelter to some of society’s most vulnerable. “We have a moral and ethical responsibility to do our part,” she said.
Project Roomkey in Los Angeles
Homeless people are not only at a greater risk of contracting deadly diseases. They are also more prone to suffering from chronic health problems. This means that they are more vulnerable to both contracting the COVID-19 virus and suffering from a severe case of the disease. In order to protect them, hotel rooms are being set aside as part of Project Roomkey. This initiative intends to shelter homeless residents and provide them with a safe environment. Currently, those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions are a priority. They are the ones already being placed in hotel rooms across Los Angeles County. The first hotel in Los Angeles opened up to homeless guests on Friday, April 3rd. Over a thousand beds are expected to b made available by next week.
Ways to Shelter Homeless Residents
If you are looking to help Los Angeles yourself, there are ways for you to do so. Organizations such as KTown For All, the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, and the NoHo Home Alliance are fighting to defend the homeless in Los Angeles from abuse by officials and from the coronavirus outbreak. They are purchasing and distributing food and hygiene kits to people who are homeless across different neighborhoods in Los Angeles. If you would like to help, you can donate to the Noho Home Alliance here, to SELAH here, and to KTown For All through their Venmo at @ktownforall.
