Garcetti: Los Angeles Adds Homeless Shelters, Beds and Porta Potties to Help the Homeless

4/3/2020. The City of Los Angeles has opened 12 Covid-19 testing sites now, said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. "We've tested 40,000 LA residents," Garcetti said, adding that we will see 30,000 tests next week. Los Angeles has the capacity to do 3,500 tests a day.

Homeless people and their health has been a major concern during the Coronavirus pandemic, in part because of their potential impact on the broader community. 13th Bridge Home Shelter will open at the VA. "Today 140 new beds will be available in three new recreation centers. That takes our total to 700 new beds," Garcetti said.

The Armory on Federal Avenue in West LA has periodically been used as a winter homeless shelter for years. Nine YMCA's will be open for showers and bathrooms for homeless.

Dozens of new porta-potties were added to Skid Row. The city has signed 11 leases, adding 780 new hotel rooms for homeless that need to be isolated.

Garcetti added that the LA Clippers donated $2-million for child care for health care workers, meals for elders, and help for poor people. Another $10-million was donated by young Snapchat billionaires Evan Siegel and Victoria's Secret supermodel Miranda Kerr.

Longtime philanthropists Eli and Edith Broad donated $500-thousand to the Mayor's Fund and the Angeleno Fund. This campaign will start handing out gift cards with funds for food and cash for homeless people. And 150,000 N 95 masks were donated by a digital streaming company.