Parents sound alarm over dangerous homeless encampment near South LA elementary school
Elementary students walk through daily hazards
Matthew Seedorff was in South Los Anglees as parents share the struggles their kids face when walking to school.
LOS ANGELES - Longstanding safety concerns are resurfacing outside a South Los Angeles elementary school, where parents say hazardous conditions tied to a nearby homeless encampment continue to put children at risk.
What we know:
Residents near 61st Street Elementary School say the situation persists despite repeated complaints and a recent city cleanup effort.
According to neighbors, an encampment located near the 110 Freeway underpass — about a block from the school — was cleared by city crews Wednesday. However, within hours, people began returning to the area.
"They come back within an hour. Some just said they’re just waiting to clean up and they’ll come back. That’s how bad it is," said Karen Gutierrez, a concerned parent.
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Parents and residents describe the area as filled with tents, trash, drug activity, and other concerning behavior along a route frequently used by children walking to and from school.
"A lot of pipes that are broken, massive condoms used," Gutierrez said, describing conditions under the overpass.
Omar Ramos, a nearby resident, said the behavior in the area is inappropriate and dangerous for children.
"People [are] having sex in their cars, and once they’re done, they throw the used condoms on the sidewalk and street. This is directly where children are walking to and from school," Ramos said.
Gutierrez also described a frightening encounter involving a parent near the encampment.
Homeless camp threatens children walking to school in South LA
Neighbors report ongoing issues including trash, drug activity, and inappropriate behavior along a route children use to walk to and from school.
"I’ve had a parent that actually comes to school — she has two kids — and she was snatched by one of the homeless and placed in the tent. The only reason it didn’t go further, we watched ourselves," she said.
Residents say they have been raising concerns with city officials for years but claim little has been done to address the issue long term.
"I’ve been in contact with Council District 9 and the school since 2021 to come up with permanent solutions. What’s their solution so far? Zero," Ramos said.
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Gutierrez said she has repeatedly reported issues through city channels.
"I’ve called 311. I’ve used the app. I’ve reported it when there’s fires. When I’ve gotten here, the fire department tells me they know them by name — we can’t do anything about it," she said.
During a visit to the area after the cleanup, FOX 11 observed signs of people returning, including trash reappearing and an active fire burning over what appeared to be motor oil. The crew also left the area after spotting a man neighbors claim often carries a machete.
"I’m very, very disappointed with the city," Gutierrez said.
Parents say they are demanding more than temporary cleanups, calling for a lasting solution to ensure children can safely travel to school.
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"Respectfully, come off your desk and come and do your job, because these kids deserve better," Gutierrez said.
What they're saying:
Los Angeles city officials provided the following statement to FOX 11 Thursday morning:
"The conditions near 61st Street Elementary have been significantly impacted by ongoing illegal dumping and nearby encampments, creating serious quality-of-life concerns for students, families, and the surrounding community.
Our office has been actively addressing this issue through consistent cleanups and ongoing outreach to our unhoused neighbors. However, as many residents have experienced, these conditions often return shortly after they are addressed.
We are taking additional steps to bring lasting relief. Our office is preparing to introduce a 41.18 motion focused on protecting the area around the school, and we are moving forward with installing surveillance cameras to deter illegal dumping and hold offenders accountable.
These actions are already underway, and we remain committed to delivering sustained improvements that ensure a safer, cleaner environment for the entire Council District 9 community."
What we don't know:
The Los Angeles Unified School District was contacted for comment and has not responded.
The Source: This report is based on direct interviews conducted by FOX 11's Matthew Seedorff with local parents and residents who have documented these conditions since 2021.