Los Angeles Fire Department reported it had responded to at least four overdose calls every day at the park.
Jennifer Haid does outreach work in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. She founded the nonprofit Humankind LA to help people struggling with homelessness and addiction. The city of Los Angeles moved forward on Wednesday, June 26, with $3 million in funding for establishment of a respite center within half-a-mile radius of MacArthur Park, which one official described as the “epicenter of overdoses.”
There are people scattered throughout the park and the vending areas of Sixth and Alvarado, with no real place for unhoused people to go. Los Angeles Police Department officers issue 41.18 citations — or anti-camping violations — and those individuals get moved from the sidewalks. However, with the creation of the MacArthur Park Harm Reduction Center, they’ll have a place to go for a shower, food and access to treatment, according to the councilwoman.
Rodriguez said she appreciated Hernandez’s efforts to leverage resources, but without a detailed plan on how the $3 million will be used, she could not fully support her colleague’s request. Hernandez expressed her commitment to providing the necessary information on expenses, efficacy of the services and impact on the community.
More than 20% of residents in the zip code around MacArthur Park live below the poverty line. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported it had responded to at least four overdose calls every day at the park, and about 15 calls on a recent overnight shift. About $126,000 was secured through private philanthropy to assist in real estate matters, according to L.A. City officials.
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