City of Los Angeles’ Failure to Protect Low-Income Single Room Occupancy Housing Will Increase Homelessness, Says HHR

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The potential loss of thousands of single room occupancy (SRO) housing units due to the impending collapse of non-profit housing group SRO Housing and coming on the heels of the collapse of Skid Row Housing Trust, is a disaster for the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, according to AHF’s Housing Is A Human Right (HHR).

The failure of the City of Los Angeles to shore up single room occupancy housing, permanent apartment units for those most vulnerable to homelessness, is one more example of a failure of the city to prioritize permanent housing for our homeless population.

“The City of Los Angeles must do everything in their power to help save units for the poorest Angelenos,” said Susie Shannon, Policy Director for Housing Is A Human Right. “Losing single room occupancy units would put many Angelenos back onto the street at a time when homelessness is rising. The City of Los Angeles pays more to service those sleeping on the street than it does for those in permanent housing. Now is the time to act with urgency.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor's Inside Safe program is costing $4,500 per room every month for temporary housing.

While the City says that permanent housing is a priority, 91 rehabbed units of SRO housing in Skid Row have been sitting empty at the Barclay Hotel for five years due to bureaucratic red tape in multiple departments within the City of Los Angeles, with no end in sight.

The 2026 Los Angeles homeless count showed 45,194 people are experiencing homelessness in the city. In addition, over 60 percent of renters are rent-burdened.