(crowd yelling)
- [Interviewer] The issue of that house
in America is transitioning into an actual physical clash.
This is the scene in Echo Park
on March 25th, 2021 more than 180 protestors were arrested.
It had to do with tent cities.
Tent cities are growing in America.
Where unhoused people live together in places
like sidewalks and public parks.
Hundreds of encampments popped up
across the U.S. since the economic crisis of 2008.
And when the global pandemic hit in 2020, homeless numbers
spiked and tent cities became exponentially larger.
That brings us back to the clash in Echo Park.
The tent city in Echo Park
wasn't an iconic Los Angeles destination and
it was different than most of the counties
hundreds of encampments,
because it had organized leadership.
Who saw the tents
as an alternative to LA as homeless crisis.
The worst in the United States.
They had a community garden and actually
paid those living there to keep the encampment clean.
But that defiance of the norm attracted the ire of the city
which sent in the cops.
This is the community center in Echo Park,
behind us as the kitchen
and it's where people come and donate food.
So people that are experiencing homelessness
can get the meals that they need to survive.
Activists have been trying for years to keep the park open
as a safe haven for those in need.
I was there the day, the park closed down.
The city said the park would be closed due to repairs
and to clean up the lake.
Many residents complained about trash and feeling unsafe.
Hundreds of housed people came out
to support their unhoused neighbors
and stop sweeps or clean up of the area.
- We're not trying to take over the park,
we're not going to trash the park.
The county health department got no advance notice of this.
- They believe sweeps just move the problem
rather than helping the homeless crisis.
Protestors want the city to spend money on permanent housing
for the homeless verse police action.
It's estimated more than $800,000 was spent just
on LAPD officer hours to close the park.
Just like any city, here, you have your seniors.
So you've been at Echo Park for five and a half weeks
and now you're going to relocate
and that's why someone gave you this for your cat.
Children
(child babbling)
Aah!
and underground characters, like gang members who
take advantage of the homeless.
- These protests are far more important.
They're a bit past due, but I'm, it does my heart,
well to see it.
- I met this family who was packing
their tents into a camper to move to the next destination.
Thank you for letting us come in here.
I so appreciate it.
When I walked in, I was greeted with a cup of coffee
(grinding noise)
and a song.
I know the song Hanuka Matata.
- Hanuka Matata
- I learned the dad is now a mom and is a trained chef
who lost her job in the pandemic.
- I love French cooking. Um.
And I really love making a nice French onion soup.
It's really deep and rich. It's delicious.
(calming music)
Just
waiting.
Like it seems many other people are
for life to continue moving forward.
- The other mom is a graphic designer
and artist who sets up shop in the park.
She relies on free wifi to get her work done.
- And my main clients hire me for empowering women
and realistic fantasy illustrations.
I have this one. That's really fun.
That's gender swapped, Greek gods.
And I'm just starting a new portfolio.
Cause I'm trying to get like a real job.
Maybe we'll see if it happens.
I like snakes and serpents.
They have some cool symbolism that deal
with that transformation and renewal.
- And the family dog rounds out their pack.
(dense music)
- Let me show you something.
- Okay show me something else.
Their two adorable children have their own toy tent.
What are you going to show me with your favorite toy?
Go to the bathroom by themselves
and the streets are their school.
- When did the moon go bro?
- Do you ever see yourself being in a home?
- That is home. This is homeless, um, but even when
it was a tent or living in my car. My car was my home,
um,
or where I was at or whatever it was, you can make it.
If it's not your home
then you're like miserable and upset and suffering. Um.
So you enjoy where you are.
(playful music)
- [Interviewer] They're making do,
but affordable housing is best
for this family and being displaced,
they say just makes it harder.
- If every city had Echo Park, it would be a much
more magical place in this world.
Everybody would feel much more comfortable to be themselves
and heal and express and like live a life and make mistakes
and do these things that we all say we are supposed to do
and should do.
But we pay lip service to it,
because once the behavior deviates and we do,
do the things that we need to do to grow,
then we are shamed and shunned for it.
And places like these, at least this place specifically
that I've experienced, allowed all of that to happen.
And now for it to get shut down is unfortunate.
There's no place for the homeless or the fringe.
That allow more people to kind of
integrate back, um, into society,
in a way that isn't shamed.
It's not like you come back and do it my way
and we will help you give you these resources.
It's no, you need these resources to survive.
And eventually you will heal and grow and want to contribute
from your own self, because that's what we all really
want to do in the end when we're not so scared.
(helicopter noises)
- [Interviewer] This family and countless others
are on the move to
place their tents in different areas of Los Angeles.
200 of the unhoused are now moved into temporary shelter
provided by the city.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said, "This is the largest transition
of an encampment in the city's history."
Is when the city comes in
or people come in and they clean the area
or they sweep the area that it solves the issue.
- So you sweep the dirt under the rug and say,
it's swept up. It's just under the rug.
- Many fear.
This tent city crisis is about to get even worse.
As the divide between the haves and have nots widens.
Leaving many wondering is this the new one America.
(dramatic music)
(soft music)