Local Emergency Declared By Malibu City Council To Remove Homeless Encampments

CBS Los Angeles

October 4, 2022

The Malibu City Council approved the declaration of a local state of emergency initiating a program for reducing the risk of wildfires associated with unpermitted and unregulated camping in City limits. The approval was made Sept. 27.

"Wildfire is Malibu's number one public safety threat, and homeless encampments in the brush-covered canyons and hillsides of Malibu are a recipe for disaster," said Mayor Paul Grisanti. "The City must address the very real threat to lives and homes posed by homeless encampments during peak wildfire season, while continuing our approach to finding shelter options and homeless services for those who are moved out of encampments."

The resolution enables the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), LASD-Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) and the City to more quickly remove homeless encampments on public property that are identified as fire threats during wildfire season, council leaders said. As part of wildfire safety efforts, LASD and the City are prioritizing removing homeless encampments and unhoused people from the brush-covered hills and canyons of Malibu and placing them into emergency shelters.

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