Los Angeles Grapples with 75,000 Homeless Amidst Persistent Open Drug Markets

Los Angeles continues to face significant challenges with its homeless population and drug policies, particularly in areas like Skid Row, where open drug markets remain prevalent. A recent social media post by "T Wolf 🔽" highlighted these concerns, stating, "These are the questions we should be asking in regards to our homeless and drug policies. The problem is not getting better. Open drug markets remain. Just go to Skid Row in LA and see for yourself." This observation underscores the ongoing struggle to address a crisis affecting an estimated 75,000 individuals in Los Angeles County.

The city's approach to this complex issue is exemplified by the Skid Row Care Campus, which officially opened in spring 2025. This facility offers a range of services, including showers, laundry, and addiction treatment, embracing a harm reduction philosophy. For those not ready to quit drugs, the campus provides clean syringes, glass pipes, naloxone, and fentanyl test strips to prevent overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases.

Darren Willett, director of the Center for Harm Reduction at the new campus, defended the strategy, stating, "We get a really bad rap for this, but this is the safest way to use drugs. It's an overdose prevention strategy, and it prevents the spread of infectious disease." This approach, funded by approximately $26 million annually from local, state, and federal sources, aims to meet individuals where they are, offering support without mandating abstinence.

Despite these efforts, the presence of open-air drug markets, with dealers peddling meth and fentanyl, continues to be a visible reality on Skid Row. This situation reflects a broader national debate, with Los Angeles County leaders adopting harm reduction principles while other political figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have pushed for stricter laws and mandatory treatment. State Senator Roger Niello, a Republican, has criticized Los Angeles's approach as "harm encouragement," arguing it "continues to feed a habit that is, quite frankly, killing people."

The persistent challenges in Skid Row highlight the deep divisions in how to best address the intertwined issues of homelessness and substance use. While the Skid Row Care Campus represents a significant investment in a public health-focused strategy, the ongoing visibility of open drug markets and the differing political viewpoints underscore the difficulty in finding universally accepted solutions to this enduring urban crisis.