A makeshift homeless encampment hidden atop a bus shelter has been discovered in Brentwood, one of Los Angeles’ wealthier neighborhoods.
Video obtained by KTLA showed a man lying on the roof of the bus stop, surrounded by personal belongings and a shopping cart.
The busy transit stop sits near the intersection of South Barrington Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, an area regularly used by commuters and pedestrians.
A spokesperson for Councilmember Traci Park said her office dispatched a homeless outreach worker to assess the situation and determine how best to respond. City employees were also spotted at the site.
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Metro told KTLA that most Los Angeles bus stops are owned and maintained by the city, meaning the transit agency does not have jurisdiction over them.
The discovery comes as Los Angeles continues to search for ways to address homelessness, a major issue heading into the mayoral contest between Councilmember Nithya Raman and Mayor Karen Bass.
A recent Los Angeles Times analysis reported that the city has spent $300 million since 2022 on Inside Safe, its flagship homelessness initiative. The newspaper found that roughly 40% of people placed into housing through the program later became homeless again.
California is currently home to about 187,000 people experiencing homelessness, including approximately 45,000 in the city of Los Angeles, according to the city’s latest count.
KTLA has previously reported on people taking shelter in city storm drains near the 110 Freeway, highlighting the extreme conditions faced by some unhoused residents.
