[dropcap size=big]V[/dropcap]iolence against a homeless person should be treated as a hate crime, according to the city of Los Angeles. The City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday supporting legislation adding homelessness to the list of statuses protected by California’s hate crime laws.
The resolution comes after several brutal attacks against those experiencing homelessness this year. The move also comes as the city's struggles to alleviate the growing homelessness situation fueled by a lack of affordable housing, rampant gentrification, and redevelopment. Incoming L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva recently told L.A. Taco that the city leadership on the issue "has been lacking."
Villanueva said the issue is going to require a "compassionate approach" and an end to NIMBY-ism, which would include repurposing large, unused structures like the former L.A. County General Hospital building as temporary housing.
"We should have a comprehensive regional approach to homelessness," Villanueva said. "And recognize it is a national and regional problem, not only a local one."
California leads the nation in attacks against those experiencing homelessness. The Office of the Chief Legislative Analyst noted a 2015 report by the National Coalition for the Homeless finding that 25 percent of attacks nationwide happened in California. On average, these victims were mostly middle-aged men, and the perpetrators were overwhelmingly men under 30.