Many people are trying to petition to stop Project Roomkey without the full facts or making large worst-case assumptions based on fear of the unknown. Don't be that person.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill

A lot of the questions are answered simply by reading the website found here: 
https://covid19.lacounty.gov/project-roomkey/

Homelessness is not "some other city's problem". Every city has their own set of homeless people - let's not turn a blind eye. 

Homeless Count (last counted 2019 by LAHSA):

• Monterey Park: 80
• Alhambra: 68
• Arcadia: 77
• San Gabriel: 27
• Montebello: 158
• Rosemead: 91
• These cities alone number 501 homeless people! This is not a small problem!
• Remember, homeless people are "homeless". They don't belong to any one city! They can travel between cities, so the homeless in a neighboring city is STILL Monterey Park's problem!

Project Roomkey aims to help these people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 as they cannot protect themselves or have any way of quarantining. They especially address the groups most vulnerable: age 65+ and those with prexisting health conditions (ex: chronic kidney conditions, diabetes, heart/blood conditions, etc - more info found here: LAHSA - Project Roomkey Policies and Procedures).

They set a ground plan and working with LAHSA, the LA county group that works with approximately 100 service providers to address the homeless in LA county. They take their work seriously by working with experts who have dealt with many of the problems seen with working with homeless people.

Let's be reasonable and acknowledge plans are never fool-proof and they tried to avoid empty promises. They have fall-back plans and considered as many scenarios as possible to address people's concerns. 

If you let fear of the unknown happen to you, we would have no innovation, no problem-solving, and everyone playing absolutely safe and get nothing done. 

Top questions:

• Will the homeless be there "forever"? - the terms per the website is extension is only for the duration of the pandemic
• Where will they go afterwards: You can read the full statement in the website, but basically they will find exit goals in hopes of not returning them to the streets. If this is not possible, they will be moved to homeless shelters.
• Is it safe?: Per the website, they have 24/7 surveillance with a security guard per 50 people and other personnel like case managers, LA County Fire – Shelter/Site Manager, and nurses. That's 4-5 security guards for the Lincoln Hotel alone. Everyone is given an ID and are not allowed to leave except for essential reasons. This is intended to serve as a quarantine site, not a permanent homeless shelter.
• Who is allowed to stay in here?: Only 65+ people and must be referred to the program by a homeless services provider, health care provider, law enforcement, or other service provider. No walk-ins allowed.

Don't participate in NIMBY (not in my back yard). These homeless people are living in your streets, behind your restaurants. They are already in your neighborhood! Instead of making it easier for them to get to you from the streets, give them the chance to quarantine!

“Giving up is the only sure way to fail.” - Gena Showalter