LA County winter shelters open at these 5 locations — with pets allowed

In preparation for the 2024-25 winter season, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority on Thursday declared five sites across the county available to shelter unhoused residents.

Last week, the L.A. county-city joint agency opened its Winter Shelter Program, offering 217 beds through March 31. Unhoused residents can receive three meals per day, a bed to sleep in, and the ability to bring their pets and emotional support animals at the following locations:

— 45150 60th St. W., Lancaster, operated by Volunteers of America for unhoused women

— 5500 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles, operated by Bryant Temple, a co-ed shelter

— 8311 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, operated by New Reflections, for unhoused women

— 8501 1/2 S Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, operated by New Reflections, for unhoused men

— 12426 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, operated by Whittier First Day, a co-ed shelter

The agency’s winter response consists of the Winter Shelter Program and the Emergency Response Program, formerly known as the Augmented Winter Shelter Program, according to LAHSA. More information on winter shelter sites is available at www.lahsa.org/Winter-Shelter or by calling 2-1-1.

During severe cold or rain, the city or county of Los Angeles may activate the Emergency Response Program to expand capacity and bring even more people indoors.

LAHSA launched its Emergency Response Program in the spring, designed to deploy resources to unhoused residents as quickly as possible during local emergencies or significant weather events.

The Emergency Response Program also offers 208 motel vouchers during each program activation to help people during severe weather.

During the 2023-24 winter season, the program served 849 people, 237 of whom remained inside after the winter shelter season concluded, according to LAHSA.

An additional 1,563 people came inside during severe storms related to the Augmented Winter Shelter Program — of which 132 participants accepted referrals to interim housing following these events. In addition to the 388 available Winter Shelter Program beds last year, LAHSA mobilized 620 cots across 13 pop-up shelters, and 625 hotel/motel vouchers were available during severe weather events.

Anyone needing a winter shelter bed was urged to go directly to the site, ask a homeless service provider to connect them, engage an outreach worker or call 211 to receive a referral to the site closest to them.