𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡: Homeless Encampment Cleared at Santa Monica Beach

On Thursday morning, January 22, 2026, officers with the Santa Monica Police Department Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) encountered an abandoned encampment at Santa Monica Beach. Officers requested assistance from the city’s Homeless Support Team (HoST), which responded shortly thereafter. HoST personnel arrived in a pickup truck, collected the remaining items from the site, loaded them into the vehicle, and cleared the area.

Nearby, in the Santa Monica Beach parking lot, HLP officers issued citations to two individuals who appeared to be camping. In addition to the citations, officers provided the individuals with information on available services and referrals to local assistance programs. The individuals then packed up their belongings and left the area without further incident.

The HLP team—comprised of one sergeant and six officers—works in coordination with the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, the Santa Monica Fire Department, the city’s Human Services Division, and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to connect individuals experiencing homelessness, substance-use challenges, or mental-health crises with appropriate city and county resources.

HoST operates under the City of Santa Monica’s Public Works Department and currently consists of one crew leader and two maintenance workers contracted through Mariposa. The team works closely with police and fire departments and often serves as the primary response for encampment-related sanitation issues reported through the city’s 311 system or identified by field staff.

Launched in late 2023, HoST has addressed hundreds of locations citywide. City officials plan to transition the program to a fully in-house operation later this year, with expanded coverage and dedicated vehicles. Team members receive enhanced training in de-escalation, hazardous waste handling, Naloxone administration, and safety protocols related to bloodborne pathogens and potential fentanyl exposure.

The program is funded through voter-approved Measure CS, which increased the hotel tax to support Clean & Safe efforts, public safety initiatives, and homelessness response across Santa Monica.

#SantaMonica #SantaMonicaPier #PoliceActivity #LawEnforcement #PublicSafety #breakingnews
—
⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘
This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.

© 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.
—
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥
Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations.
—
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣
PayPal 👉 https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabia...
Venmo 👉 https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup
—
𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘
Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup  
Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup  
Twitter 👉   / smcloseup  
—
𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦
   / @santamonicacloseup  
—
𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦
Email 👉 press@santamonicacloseup.com
—
𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U
—