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Several protests have taken place in Los Angeles County over the past week to oppose a government initiative called Project Roomkey that secures hotel rooms for individuals experiencing homelessness during the new coronavirus pandemic.
The public health measure, which first launched in early April, provides shelter to those most vulnerable to complications caused by the respiratory syndrome in hotel and motel establishments, most of which have been closed to commercial visitors since March.
"Project Roomkey aims to not only protect high-risk individuals, but to also prevent the spread of the deadly virus in our communities and protect the capacity of our hospitals and healthcare system," reads a description of the initiative shared to the county's website, which confirms individuals selected for the program are screened for the new coronavirus before admission as well as during their respective stays.
Participants must test negative, and those who do not are transferred to "an appropriate location for further care," according to additional information shared by L.A. County. It references Project Roomkey as a "collaborative effort" between state and county officials, as well as the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
Still, local outlets have published multiple reports of civilians gathering to protest outside Project Roomkey locations in their respective areas. Photos of the most recent demonstration on Saturday in Rosemead, a city of about 50,000 located less than 15 miles east of downtown L.A., show residents standing in the parking lot and along the sidewalk near a motel involved in the county initiative. Protesters pictured held signs that criticized Project Roomkey, insinuating it contributes to a lack of safety in their community.
"They're ramming this down our throats without our say," said Rosemead resident Leslie Baker in a phone interview with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. She criticized what appeared to be a fast-tracking of the plan without the initial involvement of the community.
Similar protests have taken place nearby in San Dimas and Hacienda Heights since last weekend. On May 8, San Dimas Mayor Emmett Badar released a statement formally opposing an agreement between county officials and a local Motel 6 that was set to participate in Project Roomkey, saying the decision was rooted in an "effort to ensure the safety" of city residents. Badar proposed further conversation between San Dimas and L.A. County to determine "an equitable solution."
Residents of Hacienda Heights, who protested their city's involvement in the initiative on May 9, have created a Change.org petition to share grievances about the county program. The petition includes concerns about individuals housed in Hacienda Heights through Project Roomkey transmitting the virus to others in the community.
L.A. County's description explains that everyone who participates in the initiative must adhere to restrictions limiting non-essential travel and mandating social distancing, "just like all the residents of Los Angeles County."
As the county looks to reopen areas of its economy, the description notes that protecting vulnerable individuals has become even more critical. While authorities have discussed the possibility of reopening individual cities with lower incidences of diagnoses, hospitalizations and deaths related to the new coronavirus, L.A. County's overall numbers remain high. As of Sunday, according to the county, there have been 37,974 coronavirus cases, including 1,821 deaths. Its outbreak is the most severe in California.
According to officials' most recent data regarding Project Roomkey, about 2,700 hotel and motel rooms had been repurposed for the initiative's use by May 5, with almost 1,800 currently occupied. As of 2019, when LAHSA's latest statistics were finalized, there were more than 49,500 individuals experiencing homelessness across L.A. County. Of them, more than 40,000—80 percent—were unsheltered, with most reported living on the street as opposed to in tents or vehicles. At least 11,300 unsheltered individuals were older than 55.
Representatives from L.A. County, L.A. City and LAHSA did not reply to Newsweek's request for comment on this story by time of publication.
Correction 6:41 PM EST, to update the latest number of coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County.
