The LA Fire Department has linked nearly a third of all firefight responses over the past seven years with those experiencing homelessness, and in a new report, authorities have suggested that the fire department should start capturing the billions of dollars it has spent on homeless relief efforts to bolster its own $838 million budget.
“LAFD continues to be directly involved in the direct response to the homeless crisis,” Battalion Chief Eric Roberts wrote in a memo detailing the resources of the department increasingly devoted to issues involving homelessness or “pae” in City’s jargon.
Between 2018 and 2024, LAFD firefighters responded to 232,266 fire calls, of which 76,449, or 32.9%, were associated with homelessness, with the majority of the increase (475% jumps) counting in the number of last decaded garbage fire extinguishers.
The fire department said people experiencing homelessness made up for nearly 12% of all medical calls, but said the data is incomplete as it notes whether people appear homeless or not is not part of the patient assessment protocol.
The department’s memo also notes that since 2021, the city has spent more than the entire fire department budget each year on homeless relief efforts, spending an estimated $960,768,059 between 2024 and 2025 on homeless care between 2024 and 2025.
The city of LA is facing a potential $1 billion deficit, and Mayor Karen Bass has already asked the city manager to come up with a budget cut of between $500 million and $900 million.
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