![[A photo of tents on the sidewalk in Venice.]](https://uscannenberg-uscannenberg-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/PHLEPMWOVZFZDBE6FEXO25QPP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=cce1be12805aeb80a2c1ec45cc5c1447c39aca46e495a67e69caa264ec08c1b9&width=4032&height=2268)
Stroll down the Venice canals and you’ll see embers, ashes, blackened wood and smell the remains of a fresh fire. Under your eyes, three houses are burned to the ground. Residents who have seen the unhoused crisis grow over the years said they suspect unhoused people are responsible for the fire, but authorities are still investigating the origin of the blaze.
The Venice Canals are located across from South Venice Boulevard, home to encampments of unhoused people. Residents explained that a lot of unhoused people go through the garbage and walk on construction sites at night.
This particular neighborhood is a testament to the sensitivities of the unhoused issue as two candidates, Erin Darling and Traci Park, vie to represent the area on the Los Angeles City Council starting Nov. 8. Park and Darling’s teams did not respond to interview requests. Still, policies related to the unhoused are prominent on their websites.
Encampments have been a big issue in the city for years. The two candidates, Darling and Park — both lawyers — have different views on it.
Darling was born and raised in Venice. He opposed an L.A. city ordinance that would allow council members to design public spaces as off-limits for encampments. Darling doesn’t support the dismantling of encampments without creating affordable housing.
Access to affordable housing is one of the most prominent issues in the Venice district. Venice is now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in L.A., with rent for a 1-bedroom apartment averaging at $3,360 according to Zumper.
“Shelters are only a temporary solution,” said Erika Hartman, chief executive officer of Safe Place Youth. “We need long-term solutions, which means focusing on building affordable housing in the district.”
Safe Place for Youth houses 182 young people experiencing homelessness each night and tries to get them back on their feet through a progressing engagement process involving access to food, activities, therapy and more.
“Many [young unhoused people] are discouraged, because they know the shelter won’t house them forever and the money they make will never be enough,” Hartman said.
Darling has already supported multiple proposals involving new housing construction. One of them, the Reese Davidson Community project, would include – if approved by California Coastal Commission – 140 units for low-income and unhoused people on Venice Boulevard. In addition, Darling also hopes to pass the United to House L.A. ballot initiative. This initiative would fund 26,000 housing units for those experiencing homelessness in the city of L.A.
On the other hand, Park wished to use the anti-camping ordinance to block unhoused people from moving and living in public spaces. She also supported the L.A. City Council in banning camping near daycares and schools. One of her goals is to rid public spaces of unhoused encampments to give them back to the housed residents.
On the question of housing, Park suggests using resources already available: collaborative living, shared housing, affordable suites and using available infrastructure for emergency and temporary shelter. There is no specific project mentioned on Park’s website.
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, 981 people are registered as unhoused in the Venice district, with 259 of them sheltered. Both candidates have different views on handling homelessness, but it remains a priority in both their programs.
“Either of the candidates that will be elected will need to attack the question of building permanent housing,” said Hartman. “It’s the key to progress on the unhoused crisis.”