CARE and CARE+ Encampment Cleaning Operations

Living on the streets presents immense challenges, and our unhoused neighbors deserve clean, hygienic surroundings just as much as anyone else. LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) operates our public right-of-way cleaning program with a dual focus: protecting public health and respecting human dignity.

Accumulated trash and waste can unfortunately attract pests, create fire hazards, and block sidewalks. Guided by Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) 56.11, our Livability Services Division (LSD) steps in to remove environmental hazards, sanitize sidewalks, and keep neighborhood pathways safe and accessible for all Angelenos and visitors, including school children, families, and neighbors using wheelchairs or strollers.

To handle different neighborhood needs fairly and effectively, our program utilizes two distinct types of field teams. Both operate under Mayor Karen Bass’s mission to resolve encampments compassionately through housing and services like the Inside Safe Initiative.

CARE Teams (Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement): These smaller, highly mobile teams patrol the public right-of-way in Council districts daily. They cear minor litter and debris, remove line-of-sight safety hazards, ensure walkways meet standard accessibility laws, and address any other immediate concerns.

CARE+ Teams: These larger crews handle heavily concentrated areas that require deep cleaning. They perform thorough neighborhood pressure washing and area sanitization. To maintain neighborhood equity, our goal is to preserve a steady schedule of two dedicated days of CARE+ service levels in every single city council district each week.

A successful cleaning day relies on careful planning, legal compliance, and inter-agency teamwork. We use a transparent, three-step system to ensure everyone is treated fairly:

1. Evaluation: Locations are identified through data, street cleanliness indexing, or community requests. Our teams inspect the area iin advance to determine what resources are needed.
2. Posting Notices: Before a CARE+ deep cleaning can happen, crews post visible bilingual signs at least 24 hours (and up to 72 hours) in advance. This gives residents ample time to pack their items and work with outreach staff.
3. Service Day: On the day of cleaning, LASAN coordinates directly with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and county health workers. While outreach teams help move individuals into safer, temporary housing or shelters, our crews safely remove public health hazards and sanitize the sidewalks.

Absent to an immediate threat to public health of safety, personal property will be stored and maintained in a secure location for a period of 90 days for the rightful owner to retrieve. If the property is not claimed within 90 days, then the property may be discarded by the City.

The rightful owner of the personal property that was removed and stored from LASAN's CARE and/or CARE+ operations may receive information about and/or make arrangements to retrieve stored personal property by contacting:

  Chrysalis (The Bin)
  213-806-6355 / 1-844-475-1244
  507 Towne Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013
  Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm
  Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm

Please be prepared to describe the property, its location, and the date you believe the property was removed.

For options related to voluntary storage, please contact Chrysalis at the number provided above.