Councilmember Mike Bonin attended the March Brentwood Community Council (BCC) meeting to welcome new members of the board. Very quickly, the conversation turned to homelessness in Los Angeles and Brentwood in particular, where a growing encampment of homeless individuals is forming on Bringham Avenue, alongside the Veterans Administration’s fence.
Bonin discussed the frustrations and tensions of dealing with the problems associated with homelessness, which include money for housing that has been approved by taxpayers, but is now tied up in lawsuits.
Even if things move relatively quickly, it could take years to make a meaningful impact; and as homeless individuals become housed, there is nothing stopping more homeless people from arriving in Brentwood.
Many residents really don’t want homeless housing close by, and real estate is expensive. Then there is also the need to balance public safety and health against the rights of homeless individuals, which are supported by court rulings.
