Several publicly funded homeless housing developments in Los Angeles, including those supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom's Homekey program, have generated a significant number of police calls, according to an investigation by The California Post. Records reveal hundreds, and in some cases over 1,200, responses from the Los Angeles Police Department to nearly 50 developments over a two-year period.
The calls have included incidents of assaults, domestic violence, batteries, attempted suicides, mental health crises, narcotics activity, robberies, criminal threats, and reports of shots fired. These developments, financed by a combination of the Homekey program, Los Angeles' Proposition HHH bond measure, or both, represent over $2 billion in public investment.
One prominent example is the 5050 Pico Boulevard property. Originally intended as a luxury apartment building, it was acquired through the Homekey program for approximately $35 million and converted into permanent supportive housing. Police records indicate over 1,200 dispatches to this location in roughly two years, addressing a range of issues from welfare checks to serious criminal activity. Neighbors have expressed concerns about the impact on their community, with some noting a decline in safety since the conversion. Residents reported that a woman died after falling from the building's roof, an incident neighbors linked to drug use, though authorities have not publicly confirmed the circumstances.
Another development, The Iris on Barry Avenue in West Los Angeles, received nearly $7 million in Proposition HHH funding. Police records show repeated responses for incidents including assaults, batteries, domestic violence, attempted suicides, burglaries, and mental health emergencies at this site. The property was also the location of a highly publicized crime in February 2025, when a resident allegedly attacked a child and attempted to assault an elderly woman after being arrested twice in the preceding days. The suspect later pleaded no contest to multiple felony charges.
Developments on San Pedro Street have also seen high volumes of police activity. The property at 601 San Pedro Street generated approximately 750 police calls, while 566 San Pedro Street logged about 840 responses related to fights, injuries, and narcotics. Nearby properties on Crocker Street collectively recorded over 420 calls for issues including domestic violence and trespassing.
Since 2020, California's Homekey program has allocated about $1.3 billion to help local governments acquire hotels, motels, and apartment buildings for homeless housing conversions. Los Angeles city and county agencies have committed an additional $1.3 billion for renovation, operation, and completion of these projects. Many of these developments also utilized Proposition HHH funding, meaning some projects received financing from both state and local taxpayer dollars. Critics have raised questions about the effectiveness and oversight of these programs, highlighting concerns about public safety and the allocation of taxpayer funds.