El Segundo is trying out an approach to homelessness in the city that it has described as more compassionate.
The city this week launched its Proactive Approach to Combating Homelessness in El Segundo (PATCHES) program, a six-month pilot method during which the Police Department will prioritize offering shelter and services before taking any enforcement action.
The program arrives in response to an increasing population of people experiencing homelessness in El Segundo and Los Angeles County, according to a press release, and also comes not long after Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order directing local governments to remove homeless encampments that obstruct public rights of way or pose public safety hazards.
The City Council approved creation of the program in July, City Manager Darrell George said, and the PATCHES team, which includes people from the city manager’s office, Police and Fire Department, Public Works, Recreation, Parks and Library, information technology and Community Development departments, has been meeting monthly since.
In this year’s Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported there were 13 people in El Segundo experiencing homelessness, George said, as well as 42 dwellings such as vehicles, campers, tents and makeshift shelters.
The agency also reported there was a 16% decrease in homelessness throughout the South Bay compared to the 2023 count, with more than 5,000 unsheltered people counted in the South Bay in 2024, down from the more than 6,000 counted last year.
The City Council at its meeting this week also adopted a 24-hour notice policy to remove encampments on public property and city-owned spaces such as the public library and parks. Under the policy, the city will give at least 24 hours’ notice to people before dismantling shelter encampments that folks may have constructed in the public-right-of-way.
During the day-of notice, people have that time to gather belongings and will be reached out to by the PATCHES team.
Previously, the city used a best practice of notifying a person multiple times of a violation along with offering medical and mental health services and temporary shelter, George said. After three or more notifications, the person would be issued a citation and be directed to move from the location of encampment.
El Segundo will also work with regional partners like Harbor Interfaith Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, meeting monthly to connect unhoused people with shelters and other essential services, ensure efforts are well-rounded and that the program remains adaptive and responsive to the evolving needs of the community.
“The new PATCHES Program is crucial in helping the City manage encampments while staying within the bounds of state and federal laws,” Mayor Drew Boyles said in the release. “At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in El Segundo—whether housed or unhoused—has access to the services and support they need.”
The idea, per the release, is people are given multiple opportunities to accept assistance before any penalties are imposed, and to address the public nuisance of encampments while respecting unsheltered people’s rights.
Within the effort, led by the Police Department and City Manager’s office, El Segundo Police Department officers and PATCHES team members will be trained to provide unsheltered individuals with information and guidance about available resources, offer transportation to shelters and provide ongoing support throughout it all.
The City Manager’s Office will work with Police Chief Chief Rodriguez and the PATCHES team to track the number of homeless contacts, service calls, referrals and outcomes, helping the city improve access to resources and measure outcomes of the program along the way.
Chief Rodriguez, meanwhile, said in the release that PATCHES represents a holistic approach to a major community and societal issue.
“Homelessness itself isn’t a crime, and we recognize the importance of addressing it with sensitivity and empathy,” Rodriguez said in the release.
“We believe the newly established PATCHES Program offers a more proactive strategy to enhance our outreach efforts, with the ultimate aim of assisting a vulnerable population towards securing permanent housing and accessing medical or mental health care.”
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