May 20, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

LAHSA Announced Rapid Response to Tropical Storm Hilary Starting On August 17

Collaborative Efforts, Shelters Provide Safety Amidst Adverse Weather

By Dolores Quintana

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has been working in tandem with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and LA County’s Homeless Initiative throughout the weekend to provide assistance and shelter to unsheltered individuals in Southern California. LAHSA has taken on a pivotal role as the logistical hub for the city and county’s coordinated response to the storm. The agency’s emergency response protocol remains active for the duration of the weather event, and immediate assistance for those in need is available by dialing 211.

Enhanced Coordination with Partner Agencies
LAHSA has intensified collaboration with multiple agencies, including the Emergency Management Department (EMD), the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This collaborative effort aims to ensure a well-coordinated response to support individuals experiencing homelessness during the tropical storm. To facilitate this, LAHSA has initiated weekend meetings for outreach teams to disseminate information about available resources. A comprehensive resource sheet has been distributed through the LA-HOP platform to ensure all outreach staff have access to essential information.

Emergency Storm Shelters
In partnership with the LA Mayor’s Office and Recreation and Parks, LAHSA has designated eight Recreation and Parks locations as emergency shelter sites across the city. On Saturday morning, LAHSA coordinated the delivery of cots, water, blankets, and towels to these shelters and provided additional staffing support as required. Additionally, LAHSA, in collaboration with Los Angeles County, is actively identifying and preparing additional congregate storm shelter locations, such as gymnasiums, to ensure immediate safety for individuals experiencing homelessness. LAHSA is also collaborating with shelter providers to create an inventory of available beds for people evacuated from flood-prone areas.

Augmented Storm Shelter Response
CEO-HI has approved LAHSA’s request to activate the Augmented Winter Shelter program in specific Service Planning Areas (SPAs). LAHSA intends to use this program to assist individuals leaving high-hazard areas before making it more widely available. Furthermore, LAHSA is working to activate the Augmented Winter Shelter Program to make additional hotel and motel vouchers accessible to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Additional Weekend Outreach
LAHSA outreach teams conducted extensive outreach efforts in high-risk areas on Saturday and returned on Sunday morning to continue their work. These teams distributed essential items such as rain jackets, tarps, and emergency blankets to individuals in less risky areas who were unable to relocate. The LA County Department of Health Services has been collaborating to coordinate Multidisciplinary Outreach Teams operated by local nonprofit service providers. LAHSA has anticipated the need for overtime activation during the weekend and has established a supervision structure to ensure a well-coordinated response. LAHSA has mobilized additional teams to work through the weekend, focusing on locating individuals experiencing homelessness in flood-prone areas across the City and County of Los Angeles. Additional staff support has been requested from within the agency to bolster storm preparation efforts. All 100+ LAHSA outreach teams will be active across the county on Monday.

Initial Outreach Actions
Beginning on August 17, LAHSA’s Homeless Engagement Teams (HET) and Homeless Outreach Services Teams (HOST) initiated notifications to individuals experiencing homelessness in riverbed areas about Hurricane Hilary and facilitated their relocation to safer locations. LAHSA, in conjunction with its partners, has successfully relocated 50 individuals from the Santa Fe Dam area to safety. Coordinated outreach and evacuation efforts have also been carried out for individuals encamped within flood control areas throughout the San Gabriel River Watershed. LAHSA is closely collaborating with Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Homeless Initiative, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Red Cross to explore the utilization of park facilities for emergency shelter if the storm escalates to a worst-case scenario. LAHSA continues to maintain close coordination with the Los Angeles Mayor’s office and City departments to ensure effective outreach efforts and shelter availability for those in need.

Related Posts

Getty Villa Museum to Reopen After Months-Long Closure Due to Palisades Fire

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Limited Public Access Resumes With Major New Exhibition on Mycenaean Greece The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public...

Woman’s Car Stolen from UCLA Valet in Santa Monica While Visiting Husband in ICU

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Couple Left Without Vehicle During Cancer Treatment After Thief Stole Keys Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local Montessori school teacher, says she...

Celebrity-Owned Cannabis Dispensary The Woods WeHo Hit in Smash-and-Grab Burglary

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Shop Co-founded by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher, and John McEnroe Targeted The high-profile cannabis dispensary co-owned by actor Woody Harrelson,...

Pasjoli to Temporarily Close for Redesign, Unveil New Menu June 12

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica French Bistro Will Pause Service Starting June 1 Acclaimed French bistro Pasjoli will close temporarily starting on June...

Hollywood Man Charged in Deadly Attempted Robbery on 3rd Street Promenade

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica Police Say Planned After-Hours Sale Turned Violent Hollywood resident Karen Melikyan, 41, has been arrested and charged in...

Del Rey Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Using Social Media Apps

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Man Used Apps to Contact and Coerce Children to Produce Explicit Images Mark David Wallin, 44, of the Del Rey...

Brentwood Man Convicted of Stalking New Jersey Judge with Threatening Emails

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Resident Found Guilty of Months-Long Campaign of Harassment Brentwood resident Jonathan Lipman, 36, was convicted Thursday of a federal felony...

Hollywood Park to Add Movie Studio and Olympic Broadcast Center in 2028

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Studio Will Serve as International Broadcast Center for LA28 Games Hollywood Park, the massive 300-acre mixed-use development led by Los...

Mega Producer Quincy Jones’ Custom-Built Bel Air Estate Lists for $59.995 Million

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Music Icon’s 25,000-Square-Foot Mansion, Inspired by a South African Palace The Bel Air estate of the late music legend Quincy...

Lisa Vanderpump Hosts 8th Annual World Dog Day in West Hollywood

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Thousands Attend Celebration Supporting Dog Rescue and Welfare More than 2,000 dog lovers and their four-legged companions gathered in West...

Beverly Hills Claims Two Spots on April’s List of Most Expensive U.S. Home Sales

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Real Estate Report Shows LA Leads in Active Listings Over $135 Million Two of the 10 most expensive homes sold...

Yeastie Boys and Netflix Launch Nobody Wants This Bagel Pop-Up for Emmy Season

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Two-Day Event Rolls Through Brentwood on May 17 With Themed Menu In a pitch-perfect blend of street food and streaming...

One Arrested After Attempted Westwood Burglary; Security Guard Fires at Fleeing Suspect

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

LAPD Searching for Three Additional Suspects After Early-Morning Break-in Near UCLA One person is in custody and three others remain...

Maren Morris to Headline Free WeHo Pride Concert on May 30

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

WeHo kicks off Pride Weekend with Friday Night at OUTLOUD Grammy Award-winning artist Maren Morris will headline WeHo Pride Presents...

Boundary Pushing Opera Schoenberg in Hollywood Makes West Coast Premiere at UCLA’s Nimoy Theater

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Multimedia Opera Reimagining the Life of Arnold Schoenberg Debuts May 18–22 Tod Machover’s boundary-pushing chamber opera, Schoenberg in Hollywood, will...