Comunidad preocupada ante las condiciones deplorables en las que viven familias en casas rodantes
Rosy Maldonado llegó a Los Ángeles en agosto de 2022 y desde ese momento habita una de las 450 casa rodantes que hay en Gardena junto a sus hijos. “El agua la agarramos de la pompa y la luz con el generador”, dijo. Así como Rosy, son muchas las familias que viven en malas condiciones, por ello habitantes, líderes comunitarios y dueños de comercios se unieron para buscar una solución, pues aseguran que es una problemática de salubridad e inseguridad que los está afectando.
Business owners, residents meet with elected officials to discuss RVs cluttering streets in Gardena
Local business owners and employees are frustrated with the growing number of RVs housing homeless people and cluttering streets in Gardena.
A meeting between local law enforcement, business owners and elected officials took place on Thursday to discuss health and safety worries and potential solutions to the crisis that is starting to affect the daily lives of people in the neighborhood.
“They pull up in vans, RVs, trucks, whatever it is, and pull out their hoses and just dump all their waste,” said Ivan Montes, who works in the area. “It’s horrible…sometimes you can’t even work [because] the smell is so bad.”
Workers in the impacted areas say that the residents of the RVs are not the friendliest neighbors.
#Let’s Collaborate.
Collaboration at its finest! Today we brought together some of the business community and some of the homeless in the area. This was a chance to explore the situation from both sides. To listen to their experiences was quite unsettling. A local business reached out to ABC7 to help us with getting coverage on the Environmental Impact harming our business corridor. East Gardena/West Rancho Dominguez and Harbor Gateway are now on the radar.
This Is About Us.
This is about us.
Every other Wednesday, we organize a Collaborative Homeless Outreach Event. Service providers from throughout the South Bay join forces and work with the RV community
(Agencies include HOPICS, LAHSA, Harbor Interfaith, PATH, St.Joseph’s Center, City of Gardena Homeless Services, MHA-LA, and CityNet).
Today, Wednesday, July 26 we visited folks living along Main Street, Compton Blvd, Broadway & Alondra, 118th Street and Spring & Lennon. Our efforts are getting more people off the streets and into housing, shelter and/or rehab. One RV at a time at it’s working. Remember there are 450+ RV’s that have been on our streets for over 2+ years. It will take time and effort.
IS THERE A PLAN?
This meeting is for all businesses, building owners, employees, and vendors in the Unincorporated LA County areas of East Gardena/West Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, Compton & Carson. We are inviting in the Sheriff’s Dept, the HOST Team, CHP, LAPD, & other law enforcement agencies, the Mayor’s from the surrounding communities, Homeless Outreach Providers and Supervisor Mitchell’s office to sit down, discuss the concerns and talk about the plan.
WE NEED EVERYONE BUSINESS, EVERY BUILDING OWNER, EVERY EMPLOYEE, EVERY VENDOR to join us. It is time to work together and figure out a solution.
State Of The Area.
Let’s start with the issues. Last week’s clean up resulted in 119 RV’s relocating to other locations in the area. Redondo Beach Blvd, Compton Blvd, 157th Street, Main Street, Avalon Blvd, and Spring & Lennon were hit hard. Areas that were previously cleaned up suddenly had the RV’s returning. It was difficult to witness it. […]
Community Engagement.
Community Clean Ups are just one more way we are involved in our neighborhoods. To date, we have removed a staggering 674 tons of waste from the streets using community volunteers. This past Saturday, the Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council and Councilmember Tim McOsker arranged for multiple dumpsters that community members could utilize to simply dispose of their unwanted treasurers. Rudy G from the Neighborhood Council was leading the charge and driving each street picking up the large bulky items. Two hours into the clean up, we had filled both dumpsters.
Incidents and Reporting.
Tracking incidents in our communities is not a simple process. With the RV fires, we discovered there was no reporting between the fire department and elected leaders. Nor between fire & law enforcement unless arson or loss of life occurred. Complicating our neighborhoods, we have county & city entities that respond to specific areas. One side of the street may belong to the county while the other side belongs to the city. Neither of which communicate with each other on day to day issues.
We have been tracking the fires involving the RV’s & passenger vehicles within the Unincorporated LA County areas, and Harbor Gateway. We track issues along the Caltrans areas involving fires as well. Medical emergencies are occurring at an alarming rate especially with those living in the RV’s.
Homelessness Is Our Priority.
Homelessness will continue to be our priority. Clean, Safe, Healthy streets starts with working along side the neighbors living on the sidewalks and/or in their vehicles. Getting the resources to them, letting everyone know they are seen and matter. Getting them to accept the help that is available while it is available.
Three years ago, we started cleaning up Figueroa Street and the railroad areas. Since we began this journey, we have a clear understanding of the process from getting someone from the street to a shelter to housing. It is not simple. Caseworkers often have 100’s of clients. Follow up can be difficult especially when a clean up occurs and they relocate.
We are working with all of our neighboring cities and entities to ensure we are
The Resources Unincorporated LA County Areas.
Unincorporated LA County Areas of East Gardena/West Rancho Dominguez & Willowbrook, listed for your convenience are all resources that we utilize to report issues from Illegal Dumping, Graffiti, Abandoned Vehicles, Compromised Fire Hydrants and Homeless Outreach Requests.
THEWORKS app is available on iPhone or Android Devices. This is easiest way to report issues from illegal dumping, graffiti, potholes and other issues. Once you have submitted the request, you will receive a confirmation and subsequent follow-up once the service has been completed.