To the editor: The Los Angeles Police Department’s decision to remove tents in Venice, where people experiencing homelessness have taken shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, is extremely disappointing and extraordinarily shortsighted. As the L.A. Times reported, living outdoors may have helped reduce COVID-19 among this very vulnerable population. As it also reported, just seven of the 26 shelters that were opened to prevent COVID-19’s spread among this population remain open now. As a nonprofit community health center that provides care for about 4,500 individuals experiencing homelessness in Venice and the Westside, we know that housing is healthcare, especially during a pandemic. To protect the health of people experiencing homelessness in Venice, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city must find permanent supportive housing for each person before removing the tents that provide their shelter now.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 26, 2020 09:56 UTC