[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] few years ago, Tobi Ford had to deal with the widely publicized death of her son Ezell at the hands of LAPD. Now, she is forced to live with people living in tents and RVs parked along the freeway outside her house in South Central Los Angeles.
The RVs have loud generators that run all night and Ford’s kids get up early for school. For two months her water bill was $800. She later found out that people were filling up jugs from her water hose when she left for work.
Homeless encampments are becoming more prevalent on the east side of South Central’s residential neighborhoods, highlighting a growing trend as the city’s homelessness crisis seems to only grow worse. Places with less community oversight are beginning to see large “tent cities” popping up in their neighborhoods, especially in areas south of downtown.
'Is this what they have to look forward to in life?'
Makeshift housing structures made of tents draped with tarps are lined up for blocks along the 110 Freeway on south Flower Street and Grand Avenue. Multiple broken down RVs are parked along the curbs. Trash piles on streets and corners, no matter how frequently the city schedules trash and bulky item pickups, neighbors say.