LA Controller to Audit City’s Encampment Cleanup Program

The Los Angeles City Controller announced plans to audit the city’s Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE/CARE+) program, which was launched in 2019 to address street encampments and maintain city streets. The audit, led by City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s office, will assess the efficiency of the program and determine if it is meeting its stated goals, such as removing solid and hazardous waste from public streets, while also providing outreach and hygiene services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Mejia emphasized that the audit will focus on how the program uses over $60 million in taxpayer funds each year. "We will create a concrete picture of whether CARE/CARE+ is an effective and humane use of over $60 million of taxpayer dollars each year,” Mejia said in a statement. The audit will seek to determine the program’s cost, how the city determines which encampments require cleanups, whether the cleanups lead to long-term solutions, and whether the program follows public health best practices used in other areas.

The CARE/CARE+ program, run by the Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment Department’s Livability Services Division, was launched on October 1, 2019. The program’s goal is to conduct citywide encampment cleanups, removing trash, debris, and hazardous materials from streets, alleyways, and other public spaces. Teams focus on areas like Skid Row, Venice Beach, and downtown Los Angeles, as well as special enforcement zones for A Bridge Home projects.

While the program is aimed at improving cleanliness and public safety, housing and homeless advocates have criticized it for being violent and dehumanizing. Critics argue that the removals disrupt communities of unhoused individuals, often leading to the loss of personal belongings, including important documents, clothing, medicine, and electronics. According to LASAN’s website, personal property will be securely stored for up to 90 days, allowing individuals to retrieve it before it may be discarded.

Impact on Antelope Valley

Though the audit specifically addresses the city of Los Angeles, the outcomes of the investigation could have broader implications, potentially affecting programs in areas like the Antelope Valley. The region has seen growing homelessness, particularly in areas like Lancaster and Palmdale. If the CARE/CARE+ program or its auditing process brings about changes in how encampments are managed, it could influence similar initiatives in the Antelope Valley. If the audit finds inefficiencies or flaws in how cleanups are handled, it could lead to policy shifts that impact neighboring areas grappling with similar homelessness and street cleanliness issues.

With the city’s focus on transparency, the effectiveness of such programs may inspire local governments in the Antelope Valley to reassess their own strategies for managing homelessness, potentially leading to more humane or effective solutions in line with findings from the audit.