People Living in Los Angeles Storm Drains: City Response and Ongoing Crisis

Los Angeles is confronting a deepening homelessness crisis, with individuals now seeking shelter in the city’s underground storm drain system. Recent discoveries have prompted a city response, but the issue highlights the desperate conditions faced by those without housing and raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies.

Discovery and City Response

City crews nearly sealed a manhole shut in South Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, unaware that a person was still inside. Workers discovered a man in his late 20s emerging from the drain at West 88th Street and South Grand Avenue, carrying a pink polka dot roller suitcase, just moments before welding the cover closed. Los Angeles Times

The incident came to light after social media videos surfaced documenting people living in the storm drains, prompting what residents described as a long-overdue response from the city. Mayor Karen Bass’s office stated it “mobilized a response” to two locations on Grand Avenue, cleaning the sites and offering resources to those living there. Los Angeles Times

Conditions and Resident Concerns

The conditions within the storm drains are described as unsafe and unsanitary, with piles of trash, human waste, and swarming flies. FOX 11 Los Angeles Residents near 88th Street and South Grand Avenue have repeatedly reported issues related to encampments, including fires and the presence of people living in the drains, for years. Los Angeles Times

Denise Evans, a local resident, expressed frustration with the delayed response, questioning why it took so long for the city to address the problem. She noted that previous efforts to displace encampments simply moved people to other locations, including underground. Los Angeles Times

The area surrounding the storm drains is also characterized by visible homelessness above ground, with RVs, tents, and trash lining the streets. FOX 11 Los Angeles

Broader Homelessness Crisis

This situation underscores the severity of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. Juan Naula, founder of the nonprofit Clean LA With Me, believes his social media posts highlighting the issue prompted the city’s response. He witnessed as many as ten people entering and exiting the storm drains near 88th, and Grand. Los Angeles Times

City officials acknowledge the challenges, stating that while progress has been made, more perform is needed to address the crisis. FOX 11 Los Angeles

Looking Ahead

The incident at 88th and Grand Avenue highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address homelessness in Los Angeles. The city faces the challenge of balancing immediate responses with long-term strategies to provide housing and support services for those living on the streets and in increasingly desperate conditions.