So how did L.A.'s homeless problem get so bad?
That's a question many are asking as Los Angeles elected leaders on Tuesday said they would declare a “state of emergency” on the growing homelessness problem and commit $100 million toward housing and other services for homeless people.
Here are some answers from The Times' archives.
Is the homeless population really increasing?
Yes. It jumped 12% in the last two years in both the city and county of Los Angeles.
The number of tents, makeshift encampments and vehicles occupied by homeless people soared 85%, to 9,535, according to biennial figures from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.