LOS ANGELES, Calif. — This week the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn to reinstate and strengthen a pilot program by June 2025 to better serve unhoused residents at LA County libraries in need of mental health support. The motion directs the LA County Department of Mental Health and the Library Department to collaborate in providing an on-site clinician and/or licensed social workers at 10 libraries with the highest reported needs for support serving unhoused residents (libraries will be selected in each of the five Supervisorial Districts).
“This motion is in response to the homelessness and mental health crisis and the skills it requires to properly address it that are outside the expertise of our library staff,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District. “Over half of the incidents reported are at libraries in my district. It is our responsibility to ensure our libraries are safe for all residents and our staff.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn, representing the Fourth District, shared, “The truth is that some people who visit our libraries are facing challenges, whether that is homelessness, mental health struggles, or addiction. Our librarians do incredible work, but they are not trained to address complex social or behavioral issues – nor should they be. By bringing social workers into some of our libraries, we can better help people who are struggling, and our librarians can focus on their jobs.”
84 County libraries serve over 3.4 million customers a year. From October 2018 to December 2024, over 19,000 security incidents that involved people experiencing homelessness were reported at County libraries, with over 54% happening in Los Angeles County’s Second District alone.
“Public libraries have long been safe havens for those seeking refuge, resources, and support, especially for our unhoused neighbors,” said Skye Patrick, Library Director of LA County Library. “By bringing mental health clinicians back into those high-need spaces, we are not only providing immediate care to those who need it most but also sending a powerful message that mental health support belongs everywhere, including our libraries.”
Today’s motion builds on steps taken by the County to make services more accessible to library patrons experiencing homelessness, including a 2018 pilot program to help de-escalate severe mental health crises at select libraries experiencing a high number of incidents. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the pilot was halted.
This pilot iteration is the result of the 2024 motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Hahn that called for a plan from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to enable County Libraries to Better Serve their Unhoused Patrons. It re-establishes and expands access to on-site staff that consists of one master’s level clinician and a paraprofessional (Medical Case Workers or Community Health Workers) from the DMH Interim Housing Outreach Program. The on-site teams will have dedicated office hours that will be publicized.
“The Department of Mental Health recognizes that public libraries serve as a refuge for many people experiencing homelessness, including those impacted by severe mental illness,” said La Tina Jackson, LCSW, Deputy Director, Countywide Engagement Division, LA County Department of Mental Health. “We look forward to our partnership with LA County libraries to connect patrons with mental health and other social service needs to the resources best suited to their unique needs.”
Additionally, the motion calls for a quarterly update from DMH and the Library Department on program outcomes to the Board of Supervisors, including the number of patrons served, police diversion success, and potential expansion opportunities. To read the entire motion, click here.
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