A contentious ballot measure in Los Angeles has recently taken center stage, leaving residents and business owners baffled at its introduction and concerned about its implications. The ballot measure, set to go before voters next March, would require hotel vacancies to be offered and filled by homeless people. This proposal, championed by Unite Here Local 11, a powerful hospitality union, has led to a significant uproar.

If passed, hotels would be required to report empty rooms to the city’s housing department. The city would then use prepaid vouchers to house homeless individuals in these available rooms. Hotels, in turn, would receive a “fair market rate” for the rooms and be prohibited from refusing entry to someone using a voucher. The public, paying out of their pocket for a clean room, safe sleeping environment, and welcoming environment, may have to share their common spaces with homeless people. 

While all humans deserve a clean place to sleep and eat, the hotel should not be responsible for providing for people experiencing homelessness. This does nothing to combat the large-scale issues surrounding homelessness. 

California has invested over $20 billion in homeless programs in the past four years, yet the situation has not improved. While this funding has led to the creation of numerous community-based organizations, the need for more accountability and oversight raises concerns about how this money has been utilized. Critics argue that instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness, this measure risks turning hotels into makeshift homeless shelters. The fear is that hotels may struggle to manage these new responsibilities without proper support systems in place. 

 Los Angeles residents must weigh the potential consequences of this measure carefully and engage in an open dialogue about finding practical and sustainable solutions to the complex issue of homelessness. Ultimately, decisions should be made with the community’s best interests in mind.