Los Angeles County’s Pathway Home program recently helped 86 people surviving in makeshift desert encampments and dilapidated RVs in Palmdale move into safe interim housing, where they will receive supportive services and other resources to help them transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing. The tally is expected to rise as the operation continues.
“I’m proud of the collaborations that made this Pathway Home operation happen,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Every Pathway Home project is unique and requires its own combination of resources to meet the needs of the people experiencing homelessness. In this case, the County and city of Palmdale are coming together to remove RV encampments by conducting extensive outreach, offering interim housing on the spot to those who accept housing offers, and leveraging support from the Sheriff’s Department to properly dispose of RVs so they aren’t reused in the future. In the fight against homelessness, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.”
“The LA County Homeless Initiative did an incredible job disbanding the largest homeless encampment in Palmdale,” said Mayor Austin Bishop. “They brought much-needed assistance to the unhoused struggling to survive in our harsh climate. Additionally, they helped restore the quality of life to the surrounding neighborhoods and made a significant environmental impact to the desert landscape. This is one of many vital collaborations that make our city a more compassionate and better place to live for all.”
LA County conducted Phase 1 of Pathway Home Palmdale on July 22nd, and Phase 2 on July 31st, during a heat wave when temperatures in the desert reached a high of 106. In addition to bringing 86 people into safe and secure interim housing with running water and air conditioning, the operation also disposed of 20 RVs, nine cars and similar vehicles, two trailers/campers, and one boat, and removed 2,200 cubic yards of debris.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and nonprofit service providers Mental Health America Los Angeles, LA Family Housing and Valley Oasis were essential to bringing unsheltered residents in Palmdale indoors after having built trusting relationships with them by providing engagement and support during their unhoused experience. Volunteers of America is providing them with supportive services at the motel operating as their interim housing location.
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Works, Department of Animal Care and Control, LA County Fire Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) were also critical partners in the operation, particularly the LASD Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), which was instrumental in all aspects of the operation.
Pathway Home is an LA County Homeless Initiative-led encampment resolution program that is a critical component of the County’s comprehensive response to the local emergency on homelessness adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2023. By leveraging emergency powers and partnerships with local jurisdictions, Pathway Home is a full-circle solution that brings people off the streets, into immediately available interim housing accompanied by a comprehensive suite of supportive services, and, ultimately, into safe, permanent homes.
LA County Homeless Initiative Senior Manager Carter Hewgley briefs the Pathway Home team ahead of their encampment resolution operation in Palmdale, Monday, July 22, 2024. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)