This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors permitted a movement authored by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn to reinstate and strengthen a pilot program by June 2025 to higher serve unhoused residents at LA County libraries in want of psychological well being assist. The movement directs the LA County Division of Psychological Well being and the Library Division to collaborate in offering an on-site clinician and/or licensed social employees at 10 libraries with the best reported wants for assist serving unhoused residents (libraries will probably be chosen in every of the 5 Supervisorial Districts).
“This movement is in response to the homelessness and psychological well being disaster and the talents it requires to correctly handle it which are outdoors the experience of our library workers,” stated Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District. “Over half of the incidents reported are at libraries in my district. It’s our accountability to make sure our libraries are protected for all residents and our workers.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn, representing the Fourth District, shared, “The reality is that some individuals who go to our libraries are dealing with challenges, whether or not that’s homelessness, psychological well being struggles, or dependancy. Our librarians do unbelievable work, however they don’t seem to be educated to handle advanced social or behavioral points – nor ought to they be. By bringing social employees into a few of our libraries, we are able to higher assist people who find themselves struggling, and our librarians can give attention to their jobs.”
84 County libraries serve over 3.4 million prospects a yr. From October 2018 to December 2024, over 19,000 safety incidents that concerned folks experiencing homelessness have been reported at County libraries, with over 54% taking place in Los Angeles County’s Second District alone.
“Public libraries have lengthy been protected havens for these looking for refuge, sources, and assist, particularly for our unhoused neighbors,” stated Skye Patrick, Library Director of LA County Library. “By bringing psychological well being clinicians again into these high-need areas, we’re not solely offering instant care to those that want it most but additionally sending a robust message that psychological well being assist belongs all over the place, together with our libraries.”
Immediately’s movement builds on steps taken by the County to make providers extra accessible to library patrons experiencing homelessness, together with a 2018 pilot program to assist de-escalate extreme psychological well being crises at choose libraries experiencing a excessive variety of incidents. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the pilot was halted.
This pilot iteration is the results of the 2024 movement by Supervisors Mitchell and Hahn that referred to as for a plan from the Division of Psychological Well being (DMH) to allow County Libraries to Higher Serve their Unhoused Patrons. It re-establishes and expands entry to on-site workers that consists of 1 grasp’s degree clinician and a paraprofessional (Medical Case Staff or Neighborhood Well being Staff) from the DMH Interim Housing Outreach Program. The on-site groups can have devoted workplace hours that will probably be publicized.
“The Division of Psychological Well being acknowledges that public libraries function a refuge for many individuals experiencing homelessness, together with these impacted by extreme psychological sickness,” stated La Tina Jackson, LCSW, Deputy Director, Countywide Engagement Division, LA County Division of Psychological Well being. “We look ahead to our partnership with LA County libraries to attach patrons with psychological well being and different social service must the sources finest suited to their distinctive wants.”
Moreover, the movement requires a quarterly replace from DMH and the Library Division on program outcomes to the Board of Supervisors, together with the variety of patrons served, police diversion success, and potential enlargement alternatives. To learn your complete movement, click on right here.
