PEH Sanitation

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

County Spending Category
3.3 Support the Sustained Public Health Response to COVID-19
Federal Expenditure Category
Other Public Health Services
Project Launch Date
04/01/2021
Anticipated End Date
12/21/2025

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of PEH encampment cleanups performed per month.
    599
  • Amount of debris and solid waste removed per month.
    18200
  • Percent of PEH encampments receiving prior notice to enable outreach and support services.
    100
  • Total number of PEH encampment cleanups.
    599
  • Total amount of debris and solid waste removed.
    18200
  • Total number of PEH at encampments receiving outreach and supportive services.
    6600
  • Number of PEH at encampments receiving outreach and supportive services.
    6600

Target Populations

  • People Experiencing Homelessness

Project Description

The PEH Sanitation Program will provide encampment cleanups and related sanitation services to address a growing humanitarian crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Program helps sustain a public health response to COVID-19 by offering services including non-displacement cleanups and proper disposal of waste collected from encampments to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The PEH encampments targeted are located in the highest need communities with the highest COVID-19 case rates; and the vast majority of PEH are Black and LatinX, demonstrating the inequity and disparities of the PEH population. They are the most vulnerable and hardest to count in the County with the fewest readily accessible resources to combat the impacts of the pandemic. Following the County’s protocol, Public Works working with CEO-HI, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), will conduct authorized encampment cleanups presenting significant health and safety hazards to the PEH and their surrounding communities. Public Works will ensure PEH are provided prior notice and offered outreach and related services by our County partners, including access to vaccines, COVID-testing, trash bags, sharps containers and handwashing kits, to enhance the overall impact and health benefits of the Program. Maintaining the dignity of PEH, ensuring public safety and health, and equitably offering support services and housing/shelter to PEH, will be the guiding principles. The PEH Sanitation Program’s services will prevent the spread of disease, ensure clean public spaces, and improve the quality of life for PEH at these highest need locations.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description Sanitation and garbage collection services to approximately 9500 people experiencing homelessness from June 2022 to December 2025 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the encampments and the surrounding communities.

Objective Description Ensure that at least 85% of encampments receive prior notice so that outreach and referrals to support services for PEH can be provided before the PEH sanitation services and cleanup activities commence.

Activity Description To directly address the effect of COVID-19 on PEH at encampments by providing sanitation services and garbage collection where public safety and health may be in greatest jeopardy and most impacted by the pandemic.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery Number of PEH encampment cleanups performed per month. 12.00
2 Service Delivery Amount of debris and solid waste removed per month.
3 Service Delivery Percent of PEH encampments receiving prior notice to enable outreach and support services. 85.00

Outcome Description Outcomes include: • Increased solid waste hauling services in areas that were previously not served to support safer, cleaner communities particularly focused at PEH encampments. • Equitable distribution of resources to PEH, including providing prior notice for solid waste hauling and offering outreach, vaccination, and other supportive services to PEH for overall quality of life and community wellness. • Reduced reports of illegal dumping, contributing towards increased public safety and health.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Total number of PEH encampment cleanups.
2 Program Outcome Total amount of debris and solid waste removed.

Goal Description Provide access to outreach and related housing support and wraparound services including access to vaccines to approximately 9500 people experiencing homelessness from June 2022 to December 2025.

Objective Description Provide PEH sanitation services and cleanups at 12 service locations per month in areas of high need as identified according to ARDI’s COVID Vulnerability & Recovery Index.

Activity Description Partner with the CEO-Homeless Initiative, LAHSA, Sheriff’s HOST, hazardous waste contractors and solid waste haulers to perform PEH encampment cleanups and solid waste removal within the County Road and Flood Control District Rights-of-Way to protect the public health and safety of the PEH and the surrounding communities.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery Number of PEH at encampments receiving outreach and supportive services. 5000.00
2 Service Delivery Number of PEH at encampments receiving outreach and supportive services.

Outcome Description • Equitable distribution of resources to PEH, including providing prior notice for solid waste hauling and offering outreach, vaccination, and other supportive services to PEH for overall quality of life and community wellness.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Total number of PEH at encampments receiving outreach and supportive services. 5000.00