The number of homeless people in Los Angeles has increased so much that it necessitated housing people in the 294-room boutique Mayfair Hotel, where they caused $11.5 million in damage.
Homeless guests shattered windows, vandalized bathrooms, and tore carpet off the floor, The Los Angeles Times reported. The Mayfair Hotel participated in Project Roomkey, a federally funded program that turned LA hotels temporary homeless shelters.
The property damage was coupled with aggressive and violent behavior, with homeless people threatening staff, destroying property, screaming, and yelling obscenities. One instance relayed to the Times involved a male resident assaulting another resident and being escorted away by police.
The property damage to the hotel is costing the city $11.5 million, and the city plans to spend another $83 million to buy, renovate, and upgrade the property and convert it into homeless housing once again.
However, residents, business and property owners are objecting to the move, saying they don’t want to see the same conditions hurt their community again.
“The neighborhood is still recovering from Project Roomkey,” said Ruben Lares, who lives across from the hotel, The Times reported. “The purchase of the Mayfair would just completely destroy the community once again.”
At a recent townhall meeting, residents described seeing open-air drug use, discarded hypodermic needles, antisocial behavior, and criminal activity, The Times reported.
Mayor Karen Bass has said the hotel will be “completely different” from Project Roomkey once it is city-owned and coupled with critical social services. But it’s doubtful the planned relocating of people from Skid Row to the hotel will improve the neighborhood.
Cities spending tens of millions of dollars to house homeless individuals — in many cases, drug users — need to also consider the needs of the people who already live and work in those neighborhoods.
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