How do we fix this?

The Los Angeles Times kicked off a new project covering homelessness in the Southland this week with a front page, above-the-fold article by Times journalist Steve Lopez. Step Up’s work converting motels into permanent supportive housing is at the center of the story.

In the article, Step Up’s President & CEO Tod Lipka is featured as a thought-leader on the agency’s nationally recognized model to address this crisis. “We have to think about how to develop innovative solutions because what we have now doesn’t create housing quick enough.” said Lipka. We know what works in most cases. We know that supportive housing is the best long-term solution. Step Up’s motel conversions run about half the cost of new affordable housing construction per unit and can be completed in half the time. Measure HHH plans to develop 10,000 units over 10 years. But we know from data that there are many more than 1000 individuals coming in the door.

The LA Times article is a call to arms serving as an appropriate perspective to a more sustained interest in homelessness. And hopefully we are going to see much more from the LA Times on this issue.

To read the full article: http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lopez-homeless-20180128-story.html

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