What To Do if You See an Unhoused Camp or Someone in Need in or Near Outpost Estates
A picture of an unhoused camp from January 2022 located partially on private property in between the sidewalk and the cement wall near the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Outpost Drive.
A picture of an unhoused camp from August 2025 located on private property in between the sidewalk and the cement wall near the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Outpost Drive.
Outpost Estates is a special hillside community — and part of keeping it safe, clean, and welcoming is knowing how to respond when unhoused individuals or camps appear in or near our neighborhood. While compassion and dignity are essential, it’s also important to protect our homes, families, and public spaces.
Our hillside community sometimes encounters challenges related to unhoused individuals or camps, particularly near Dorothy J. and Benjamin B. Smith Park (Hollywood–Franklin Park). This small neighborhood park has served residents since 1979, but in recent years, it has experienced increases in trash, graffiti, damage, and camping activity.
A picture of the exterior of the Highland Gardens Hotel located near Franklin Avenue and Outpost Drive.
A key contributing factor has been the conversion of the Highland Gardens Hotel (at Franklin & Outpost Drive) into an interim housing site. The Highland Gardens Hotel served as a “Project Roomkey” site that provided free rooms to unhoused during COVID (July 2021 to October 2022).
Since October 2022, the hotel owners have leased the hotel to the Los Angeles City, at the request of Los Angeles City Council District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman, to provide interim housing for the unhoused operated by PATH - a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. The Highland Gardens Hotel has 143 beds (double occupancy rooms) available to unhoused individuals through an agreement that goes from November 2022 to October 2025 (with two options to extend the arrangement for one year each, through October 2026 and October 2027).
The cost to taxpayers is about $2 million per year (about $4 million to lease and $2 million to operate over the three year period).
While the site addresses an important citywide need, neighbors have raised concerns about its impact on the surrounding area, including the park across the street. Discussions are underway about potential improvements—such as turning the park into a gated dog park, open from sunrise to sunset.
A photo of unhoused camps at the Dorothy J. and Benjamin B. Smith Park from July 2022.
A photo of unhoused camps at the Dorothy J. and Benjamin B. Smith Park from July 2022.
If you encounter an unhoused individual in our neighborhood, or see a camp forming, here are recommended steps:
🚨 Emergencies First
If there is immediate danger to life, safety, or property, call 911.
📱 Non-Emergency but Urgent Concerns
Call the LAPD Hollywood Division non-emergency line at (877) ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273).
When appropriate, ask for the CIRCLE Team (Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement). This program sends trained outreach workers alongside LAPD to provide services rather than enforcement when possible.
🧑🤝🧑 Connecting People with Services
If the person appears to need housing, health, or mental health services, submit a request through the Los Angeles Homeless Outreach Portal (LA-HOP) at 👉 https://www.lahsa.org/portal/apps/la-hop/
Outreach teams can connect individuals with resources and support.
🗑️ Trash or Encampment Debris
Report debris, bulky items, or unsanitary conditions through MyLA311 (app, website, or by dialing 3-1-1).
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) will then be dispatched for cleanup.
🚗 If You See Someone Sleeping in a Car
Enter a MyLA311 service request under “Homeless Encampment” and include the location, vehicle information, and a photo.
Document but do not approach the person.
🚙 Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned cars must be reported separately by phone or online directly to Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT):
Call the Abandoned Vehicle Hotline at (800) 222-6366, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Report online here: 👉 LADOT Abandoned Vehicle Reporting.
🪧 Property Owner Responsibilities
To ensure LAPD can enforce trespassing laws even if you are not home, homeowners should:
Post “No Trespassing” signs clearly visible on their property (provided for free to Outpost Neighborhood Association supporters).
File a No Trespass Authorization Letter with LAPD annually. This letter authorizes LAPD to remove trespassers from your property when you are not present.
🤝 Community Collaboration
The Outpost Neighborhood Association encourages neighbors to:
Stay engaged with city programs that impact homelessness and public safety.
Balance compassion for unhoused individuals with efforts to maintain safety and cleanliness in our neighborhood.
Report concerns promptly and constructively, so both residents and unhoused individuals receive the right resources.
✨ By working together and using the correct reporting channels, we can help ensure Outpost Estates remains safe, protected, and welcoming — while also connecting unhoused individuals to the services they may need.
