Inside LA’s Hidden Crisis: Authorities Tackle Homeless Encampments in Storm Drains

City crews cleared yet another homeless encampment on Thursday, continuing the ongoing challenge of providing adequate housing solutions. A video captured crews entering a storm drain tunnel in Canoga Park, where people had set up makeshift homes beneath the city’s streets.

Authorities reported that this underground settlement was reached through a manhole on the sidewalk close to the Los Angeles River and Bassett Street.

Rangers from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority were responsible for safely relocating the individuals from the tunnel, placing them into temporary housing. They also sealed off the drain entrance to prevent future access.

The interior of the tunnel was cluttered with debris, trash, and human waste, making it an unsafe environment, according to a report from KTLA.

Officials noted that many of the homeless individuals they encounter often refuse city services and eventually return to these abandoned drains, choosing to dig in further rather than seek assistance.

This operation follows closely on the heels of another recent cleanup in South Los Angeles earlier in the week.

That South LA site, near West 88th Street and South Grand Avenue, had been used intermittently as overnight shelter by those looking to avoid exposure on the streets.

Neighbors around these underground encampments have long complained about crime, vandalism and drug activity pouring out of hidden tunnels and the tent communities above ground.

One nearby resident told KTLA it’s a “terrible” situation and that officials could be doing more to protect the neighborhood.

The city has long struggled to address the sprawling homeless crisis.

At least $2.6 billion of taxpayers cash has been spent buying and renovating hotels, motels and dorms for the huge unhoused population in the city and county since 2020.

The properties were all purchased with $1.3 billion from Governor Gavin Newsom’s Homekey initiative, which are then renovated using another $1.3 billion in funding from the city and county of Los Angeles.

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