Venice Encampment Cleared, 15 People Housed In Latest Inside Safe Operation

LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 30 homeless people and 10 pets were moved off the streets of Venice and the San Fernando Valley Thursday as part of Mayor Karen Bass' Inside Safe program, city officials announced.

The two operations brought 33 people into interim housing, including 15 people and four pets near Park Avenue and Speedway in Venice and another 18 people and six pets near Hubbard Street and Gladstone Avenue in Sylmar.

The operations marked the 147th and 148th efforts under Inside Safe, which has moved more than 6,600 homeless Angelenos into temporary housing since the program launched, according to the mayor's office.

“Inside Safe has always been about the people,” Bass said in a statement. “From Venice to the Valley, we’re meeting Angelenos where they are, including people with disabilities who couldn’t safely stay on the street another night, and bringing them inside.”

The Venice operation was conducted in partnership with City Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes the coastal community. More than 300 people have now been moved indoors through Inside Safe operations in Council District 11, according to the mayor's office.

In Sylmar, Thursday's operation marked the second Inside Safe effort in Council District 7 in five weeks, following a similar operation in Pacoima in October.

The operation was conducted in partnership with City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who represents communities in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

Inside Safe targets homeless encampments across Los Angeles, moving people into interim housing and connecting them with services intended to help them transition into permanent housing.

According to the mayor's office, the program has conducted 148 operations citywide, moved more than 6,600 people indoors and removed more than 200 recreational vehicles from city streets.