Avoiding a possible contempt ruling, L.A. agrees to increase homeless beds
Key takeaways
- The agreement, signed by all parties to the landmark case that is now in its sixth year, drops a requirement that the city remove 9,800 homeless encampments by next June.
- Instead, the city would have to place 19,600 homeless people into shelter or housing.
- The city’s obligation under the settlement to create 12,915 shelter or permanent housing beds by next June would be increased to 14,000, and the city would then have to maintain at least 12,915 through June of 2029.
Los Angeles, CA - April 20: Joe Nunez lives on the streets of downtown, Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) By Doug Smith Senior Writer Follow May 7, 2026 3:08 PM PT 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
To avoid a possible federal contempt ruling, the Los Angeles City Council has agreed to extend by two years the city’s commitment to maintain thousands of beds for homeless people and to shift its focus from removing street encampments to getting people indoors.
The agreement, signed by all parties to the landmark case that is now in its sixth year, drops a requirement that the city remove 9,800 homeless encampments by next June.