A small homeless encampment in Los Angeles Koreatown was dismantled on September 18 after a property owner filed a trespassing complaint, with most residents relocated to temporary housing facilities. The removal highlights both safety concerns and the recurring cycle of displacement in the city’s homelessness crisis.
The site, a vacant lot between 7th and 8th Streets on Manhattan Place, had been left unattended for months. About 10 people had settled there, turning it into a small encampment. For nearby residents, it became a source of fear and discomfort. On the morning of the eviction, six LAPD officers supervised as tents, sleeping bags, and carts were cleared. Residents were told they could no longer re-enter.
Daniel Chavez, patrol leader at the LAPD Olympic Station, personally helped one man retrieve his bicycle before warning him: “We gave you enough time since 6 a.m. If you go back in, you could be arrested.”
The property is owned by ELK Development, which plans to build a 60-unit apartment complex on the site. According to LAPD Patrol Leader Harry Cho, the eviction followed months of complaints from residents. “There was no clear solution at first,” he said. “Recently, the council office worked with the property owner to file an official complaint, and that’s when action was taken.”
City representatives, including staff from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the Mayor’s Office, and Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s office, were on site to offer services. Out of the 10 residents, seven accepted placement in temporary housing facilities, while three declined and returned to the streets.
Among those relocated, Saquita Owens, who had lived there for three months, said, “I want to take this chance to move into a government facility.” Another woman added, “I came here following a friend, but now I want to live somewhere stable.”
The encampment’s closure did not end the cycle. Three other unhoused people appeared at the site the same day. Among them was Myung-oh Jeong, a Korean man who had previously lived in housing provided by KYCC (Koreatown Youth and Community Center). He told counselors that he had been attacked by gangs before and, because of his age, needed special consideration.
By 10 a.m., cleanup began. Workers hired by the property owner cleared tents and trash, with at least two days of work expected. A Mayor’s Office spokesperson said cleanup costs were the owner’s responsibility because the lot was private property.
In a statement, Mayor Karen Bass reaffirmed the city’s goal of reducing tent encampments: “Wherever encampments exist, our goal is to reduce them. In this case, we also provided housing and services to those affected.” She pointed to the Inside Safe program, which seeks to move homeless residents into indoor housing.
Still, concerns remain about encampments forming again. Vacant or poorly managed lots are often quickly reoccupied, leading to illegal electricity hookups, trash buildup, and increased crime risks. Local resident Chan-oh Kim said, “They should have cleared it earlier. Every night we heard verbal abuse and saw fires being lit on the street. Public safety had broken down.”
While the Koreatown encampment was cleared, experts note that prevention is just as important as support. Without proactive management of vacant properties, new tent communities may appear as quickly as old ones are removed.
The case underscores how abandoned lots can quickly become vulnerable points in urban neighborhoods. Breaking the cycle, they argue, requires not only housing support but also consistent oversight of underused spaces.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
