LA’s latest homeless plan could turn hotels into homeless shelters

Los Angeles is grappling with a controversial proposal that could drastically impact the city’s already precarious homelessness crisis. The proposal, spearheaded by Unite Here, a hotel, food service, and casino labor union, suggests a plan to repurpose unoccupied hotel rooms to provide temporary housing for the homeless. However, this move has sparked intense criticism from the CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), Chip Rogers, who has raised serious concerns about the potential ramifications of such a measure.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Rogers emphasized the potential risks this proposal poses, highlighting the possibility of transforming hotels into squatter dens and consequently jeopardizing the safety of hotel staff. Expressing his unease, Rogers pointed out the challenges of managing uncooperative occupants who may refuse to vacate the premises, presenting a potential crisis for law enforcement. “Imagine if you give someone who’s experiencing homelessness a voucher, and they go to a hotel and they don’t want to leave. What are you going to do?” Rogers queried, underscoring the predicament of managing the situation without proper identification or financial records.

The CEO also stressed the detrimental impact on Los Angeles’ economy, citing a potential decrease in tourism as a consequence of this move. According to Rogers, extensive polling of travelers revealed that a significant percentage of prospective visitors expressed reluctance to travel to Los Angeles should the proposal come to fruition. With the initiative slated for a ballot measure in March 2024, Rogers urged the union to reconsider its stance and prioritize the safety of its own members, in addition to safeguarding the city’s economic well-being.

While Unite Here contends that hotels have contributed to housing scarcity, Rogers remains skeptical of the proposal’s effectiveness and its potential to exacerbate the city’s challenges. He voiced concern that this measure might not yield the desired results, potentially leading to an adverse outcome for both the hotel industry and the homeless population.

As the debate rages on, all eyes are on Los Angeles to determine how the city will grapple with this complex issue and whether the proposed initiative will address the long-standing crisis of homelessness or further exacerbate the challenges faced by the city and its residents.