121 homeless residents move out of Southern California encampment
County officials have rehoused 121 homeless residents from the Palmdale encampment in several large-scale operations.
The effort was led by the Los Angeles County Pathway Homes Program, with assistance from several local agencies and the Sheriff's Department, and took place on July 22, July 31 and Aug. 19.
The encampment was in a remote desert area, with homeless residents living in makeshift buildings, tents, dilapidated campers and cars.
Crews from multiple agencies worked together to move 121 homeless people from the encampments into temporary indoor housing. Crews also removed and disposed of 32 vehicles, including campers, cars, trailers, motorhomes and boats.
“This is a humanitarian effort, and we're trying to get people on a better path,” explained Lt. William Kitchen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. “Extreme heat in the winter, extreme cold, lack of access to fresh water, all of these things play into it.”
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Katherine McMullen and her cat were moved from a homeless camp in Palmdale to safe indoor housing. (Los Angeles County) -
A dilapidated recreational vehicle was among the 32 vehicles removed from the Palmdale encampment. (Los Angeles County) -
The Palmdale encampment was located in a remote desert area hit by extreme heat in the summer of 2024. (Los Angeles County) -
Crews converged on a homeless camp in Palmdale and moved 121 residents into safe indoor housing. (Los Angeles County) -
Andrea Reimer steps into her room for the first time after moving from an outdoor homeless camp in Palmdale. (Los Angeles County) -
Katherine McMullen and her cat were moved from a homeless camp in Palmdale to safe indoor housing. (Los Angeles County) -
Approximately 32 dilapidated vehicles and RVs have been removed from the Palmdale encampment. (Los Angeles County) -
Crews converged on a homeless camp in Palmdale and moved 121 residents into safe indoor housing. (Los Angeles County) -
Crews converged on a homeless camp in Palmdale and moved 121 residents into safe indoor housing. (Los Angeles County)
“This has been going on for several years,” Palmdale Mayor Austin Bishop said. [summer heat] The conditions are very dire and we are glad we were able to get them out of a dire situation where their health was at risk and their lives were at risk.”
The Palmdale effort marks Pathway Homes' largest removal operation to date: The county has conducted 19 encampment relocation operations since the program began in August 2023.
In total, the program has moved 783 homeless people into temporary housing and 131 into permanent housing. Approximately 496 RVs have been removed from the roads.
“These people have been experiencing homelessness for a long time,” said Kimberly Barnett of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative. “The camps here are off-grid so it's harder at times, but our outreach team works with the sheriff's office to make sure they're safe.” [we have] Everything we need to properly prepare these people to participate in the Pathway Home program.”
Several agencies and nonprofits worked together to run Palmdale, including:
- Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Homeless Services Team
- Mental Health America Los Angeles
- LA Family Homes
- Valley Oasis
- Volunteers of America
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
- Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
For more information about Pathway Home, please click here.
