Governor Newsom’s SAFE Task Force Clears Los Angeles Encampment, Connects Residents with Shelter and Services
Photo Credit: California Governor’s Office
LOS ANGELES, September 24, 2025 (CALIFORNIA NEWS TODAY) — The state of California, through its State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force, has announced the removal of an encampment located along a Los Angeles freeway, according to the Governor’s office. The operation, conducted in partnership with Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County, connected more than 40 individuals with shelter and support services before state agencies cleared the site.
The cleanup involved the removal of approximately 340 cubic yards of debris. Caltrans also installed mitigation measures, including landscaping and fencing, to prevent the site from being repopulated. This was the first SAFE Task Force operation conducted in Southern California.
“No one should live in a dangerous or unsanitary encampment, and we will continue our ongoing work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home. We stand strongest when we stand together — today, we are proud to work with our partners in Los Angeles to pair urgency with dignity and get people the help they need and deserve. California has built a strong system to address homelessness, and it is helping us turn this nationwide crisis around,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
“We are seeing real results in LA – with street homelessness declining two years in a row – and partnerships like this only continue that momentum. Together, we will end this humanitarian crisis,” said Mayor Karen Bass.
The SAFE Task Force was established following a 2024 executive order directing encampment cleanups. The initiative targets encampments on state rights-of-way across California’s ten largest cities, coordinating housing, health care, and supportive services.
State officials said the Los Angeles operation followed a period of notice and outreach beginning on September 19. Local agencies began service delivery on September 23, and all residents accepted offers of shelter. A resource fair nearby provided health services, including new identification from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a requirement for housing assistance.
California reports that overall homelessness in Los Angeles has declined for two consecutive years, including an 8% decrease in unsheltered homelessness. State funding, including $1.58 billion from Proposition 1, has been directed toward expanding behavioral health services, supportive housing, and treatment programs in the city.
For more information, visit www.gov.ca.gov.
Source: California Governor’s Office
