New York, US: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass arrived in New York City this week on a focused visit to examine the city’s approach to combating street homelessness, a crisis both cities grapple with at critical levels. Her trip comes as Los Angeles continues to battle its high numbers of unhoused residents, and she hopes that lessons learned from New York’s programs may help influence policy back home.
Learning from New York’s Shelter Network
Bass met with city officials, nonprofit leaders, and outreach workers in Manhattan and Brooklyn to observe New York’s extensive shelter system, which has long been considered one of the largest and most structured in the country. Unlike Los Angeles, New York City enforces a legal “right to shelter” mandate, requiring the city to provide housing or shelter space to anyone seeking it.
During her visit, Bass explored intake centers that act as rapid entry points for homeless individuals needing immediate beds, as well as newly developed supportive housing units aimed at transitioning people from temporary facilities into permanent housing solutions. She noted the emphasis on coordinated outreach and the fast-track placement process as elements Los Angeles could adapt.
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Shared Challenges Across Cities
Despite New York’s strong shelter system, Bass acknowledged that both cities face strikingly similar hurdles: rising rents, insufficient affordable housing construction, and the complex intersection of mental health, substance use, and homelessness. While New York shelters tens of thousands of people each night, thousands remain on the streets, mirroring challenges in Los Angeles where encampments are a visible daily reality.
“Homelessness requires more than just shelters. It requires comprehensive strategies—healthcare, treatment access, permanent housing, and prevention efforts,” Bass emphasized during her stop at a Midtown service hub.
Spotlight on Outreach and Mental Health Services
A key part of Bass’s itinerary included meeting with outreach workers who are often the first point of contact for chronically unhoused individuals. In New York, teams often consist of case managers, clinicians, and peer advocates who engage directly in subways, parks, and sidewalks to connect people with care.
New York has also rolled out specialized mental health initiatives where psychiatric professionals are paired with outreach officers to de-escalate crises and foster trust. Bass expressed keen interest in how these models could be replicated or tailored for Los Angeles, where mental health remains one of the most pressing issues within homeless populations.
Comparing Policy Approaches
Policy experts note that Los Angeles and New York diverge greatly in their approach: Los Angeles has historically struggled to scale shelters at the same level as New York, instead emphasizing permanent supportive housing as a long-term fix. But the gap between the streets and permanent housing remains wide, leading Bass to seek ways to accelerate “bridge shelter” solutions modeled after New York’s system.
She met with Mayor Eric Adams to discuss governance models and how state and municipal collaboration plays a role in New York’s relative efficiency. Both leaders agreed that funding for mental health services, substance use programs, and affordable housing development remain essential to breaking the cycle.
Looking Ahead
Bass’s visit was not merely fact-finding; it also marked the beginning of an exchange between officials in both cities. She invited New York experts to consult with Los Angeles leaders and explore pilot programs tailored for Southern California’s unique challenges, such as year-round encampments and expansive geography.
Advocates in Los Angeles see Bass’s tour as a necessary step. By learning from New York’s structured shelter system, they hope Los Angeles can expand capacity quickly while still pushing forward on affordable housing development. The mayor’s office stated that insights gained from the trip would be integrated into ongoing “Inside Safe” initiatives, a program Bass launched earlier in her term to bring unhoused residents indoors.
A National Issue with Local Faces
Bass’s New York visit underscores how homelessness is not solely a Los Angeles crisis but a national one, affecting large and small cities alike. Local leaders are increasingly turning to cross-country collaborations to trade best practices and share resources in tackling what has become one of the most persistent urban challenges of our time.
For Bass, the tour was a reminder that progress requires both urgency and compassion. “This is about people, dignity, and community,” she remarked. “We cannot allow anyone to remain unseen or uncared for.”
