As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged communities, public health experts worried about the deadly consequences for homeless people sleeping on the streets. The city had initially told the Department of Sanitation to halt its cleanups, which temporarily displace homeless people while city workers clean sidewalks. AdvertisementIn recent months, though, the cleanups have returned in certain parts of the city — particularly in specially delineated zones around homeless shelters. During the cleanups, homeless people must take down their tents and move their belongings as cleaning crews power wash the sidewalks and remove trash. AdvertisementBefore the pandemic, elected officials had said the cleanups near shelters would help convince skeptical homeless people of the need for shelters.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 22, 2020 00:37 UTC