Hotels in Los Angeles could soon be forced give vacant rooms to homeless people

Homeless people in Los Angeles could soon have a temporary roof over their heads in the form of vacant hotel rooms.

CNN reports that there are more than 60,000 homeless people sleeping on the streets in Los Angeles County.

While the homeless are sleeping it rough, more than 20,000 hotel rooms lie vacant.

The LA County will allow residents to vote on whether they want to force hotel rooms to advertise their daily vacancy levels and give a homeless person a room for the night.

The proposal, however, has ruffled some feathers in the community.

Brian Hodes / Alamy

Valley Industry and Commerce Association President Stuart Waldman has hit out at the plan, raising concerns that placing homeless people in hotels will drive away tourists.

"It's insane. It isn't going to solve the problem," he said, as per CNN.

"I wouldn't want my kids around people that I'm not sure about. I wouldn't want to be in an elevator with somebody who's clearly having a mental break."

He added: "The idea that you can intermingle homeless folks with paying, normal guests just doesn't work out."

The ordinance to provide hotel rooms as temporary housing was put forward by Unite Here Local 11, a union that strives to protect the city's hospitality workers.

Unite Here Local 11 co-president, Kurt Petersen, said the temporary accomodation solution would not solve the homelessness crisis, but 'hotels do have a role to play'.

David George / Alamy.

"They don't seem to understand who the unhoused are," Petersen said of those opposing the solution, as per CNN.

"We're talking about seniors, students, working people - that's who the voucher program would benefit the most."

The idea came from a homelessness housing initiative that was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic called Project Roomkey.

As the virus ripped through America, the program housed many of those without a home in hotels around the city.

CBS News reports that the program is now being phased out, which made space for the more permanent solution as proposed by Unite Here Local 11,

NBC reports the homeless population in Los Angeles County increased by 12.7 per cent in 2020 alone.

Shawn Bigdeli, 40, told CNN that he became homeless after he lost his job. 

Thanks to Project RoomKey, he has been living at the LA Grand Hotel since March.

"It's a blessing. It's a great room," he said.

The decision as to whether to house the homeless in hotels will be on the ballot in March 2024.