On November 18, 2025, ⁢Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will lift the state of emergency on homelessness
that she declared on her first day in office, ⁣December 11, 2022. The declaration initially aimed to
expedite solutions by cutting bureaucratic processes, including authorizing no-bid contracts, and
launching Inside Safe, the mayor’s flagship program for transitioning individuals experiencing
homelessness into interim housing.

⁢ The decision‍ comes as Los angeles has seen homelessness numbers ⁤decline for two consecutive years –
‍ a reversal of decades-long trends – according‍ to the 2025 Los Angeles County Homeless Count.

Background: The Initial Emergency declaration

‍ Mayor Bass’s initial declaration of a state of emergency on ⁣December 11,2022,was intended to
provide the city ⁤with greater flexibility ⁤in‍ addressing⁣ the⁣ escalating homelessness⁤ crisis. This
included streamlining procurement processes and enabling faster deployment of resources.The
⁣ declaration specifically authorized the⁣ use of no-bid contracts to accelerate the implementation
‍of Inside Safe.

⁣ Inside Safe focuses on identifying and moving individuals experiencing homelessness from ‍encampments
⁣ into interim housing solutions, such as motel rooms ‍and temporary shelters, with the goal of
⁢ ‍ connecting⁤ them to⁣ permanent housing and⁣ supportive services.

Recent Trends⁢ and Declining Numbers

The proclamation to end the state of ⁣emergency follows a positive trend in⁤ homelessness⁤ figures.The 2025 Los Angeles County Homeless Count revealed a decrease‍ in the⁢ unhoused population for the
second year in a row.While the numbers remain meaningful, ⁢the decline represents a notable
shift from the previous upward trajectory.

The exact figures from the⁢ 2025 ⁣count ⁤show⁤ a [insert specific percentage or number decrease here –
data from the LA Times article]. This decrease is attributed, in part, to the efforts ‍of Inside
⁤‍ Safe and⁤ othre city-funded initiatives.

city Council Pushback and Ongoing Concerns

⁢ Despite the positive trends, the duration of the state of emergency faced increasing scrutiny from
⁤ members of the Los Angeles City Council.‍ Some council members, as reported by the Los Angeles Times,
argued that the extended emergency declaration was no longer necessary and possibly hindered
normal city ‍operations.

Mayor Bass acknowledged the ongoing ⁣challenges,stating,”The crisis‍ remains,and so does our
urgency.” She emphasized that ending the state of emergency does not signify an end to the city’s
commitment to addressing homelessness.