EXCLUSIVE: Number of people attending crisis kitchen at Los Angeles’ Skid Row TRIPLES in wake of coronavirus pandemic as charities say they are overwhelmed and fear worse is coming

• The number of people visiting LA’s notorious Skid Row for free meals has tripled since the city went on lockdown on March 19, DailyMail.com can disclose
• Already, the area is home to 5,000 homeless people – 3,000 of whom sleep in shabby tents or on the sidewalk itself
• Now, photos taken exclusively by DailyMail.com reveal there has been no decline in the number of rough sleepers in the area
• Local charities say they are being overwhelmed by the extra demand – which comes as donations decline
• Large crowds could also be seen outside other Skid Row non-profits at mealtimes when DailyMail.com visited last Wednesday and Thursday
• Georgia Berkovich, of Skid Row’s Midnight Mission which provides three meals a day to the area’s homeless, says the crisis has seen the numbers shoot up
• She said: ‘We would normally see 400 to 600 a meal… This week, we’ve been seeing 1700 a meal’
• The spike in demand for free meals came as it was announced that 3.3m people have signed up for unemployment benefits nationwide last week
• The US has the highest number of cases, with 39,700 and more than 2,400 deaths. LA has 32 deaths and 1,817 cases
• Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

By RUTH STYLES IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

The number of people visiting Los Angeles’ notorious Skid Row for free meals has tripled since the city went on lockdown two weeks ago, DailyMail.com can disclose.

Skid Row is home to 5,000 homeless people – 3,000 of whom sleep in shabby tents or wrapped in blankets on the sidewalk itself.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would add thousands of temporary shelter beds to get the population off the streets to protect them from coronavirus on March 19.

But photos taken exclusively by DailyMail.com reveal there has been no decline in the number of rough sleepers in the area, while local charities say they are being overwhelmed by the extra demand – which comes as donations decline.

The number of people visiting Los Angeles’ notorious Skid Row for free meals has tripled since the city went on lockdown two weeks ago, DailyMail.com can disclose

Skid Row is home to 5,000 homeless people – 3,000 of whom sleep in shabby tents or wrapped in blankets on the sidewalk itself

But photos taken exclusively by DailyMail.com reveal there has been no decline in the number of rough sleepers in the area, while local charities say they are being overwhelmed by the extra demand – which comes as donations decline

Large crowds could also be seen outside other Skid Row non-profits at mealtimes when DailyMail.com visited last Wednesday and Thursday

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would add thousands of temporary shelter beds to get the population off the streets to protect them from coronavirus on March 19

Georgia Berkovich, of Skid Row’s Midnight Mission which provides three meals a day to the area’s homeless, says the crisis has seen the numbers coming to them for food shoot up.  TOP ARTICLES1/5READ MOREHelp at last: Navy hospital ship the USNSComfort docks in New York harbor

She said: ‘Around this time of the month, we would normally see 400 to 600 a meal, sometimes as it gets closer to the end of the month, we might go as high as 1.000 a meal.

‘This week, we’ve been seeing 1,700 a meal. We’re still serving three meals a day but we’re seeing three times the number of people.’

Large crowds could also be seen outside other Skid Row non-profits, including The Weingart Center and Fred Jordan Missions, at mealtimes when DailyMail.com visited last Wednesday and Thursday.

The spike in demand for free meals came as it was announced that 3.3 million people had signed up for unemployment benefits nationwide last week.

Governor Gavin Newsom said last week that 1 million of those claims were made in California alone – parts of which have been shut down for weeks.

But for California’s 151,000 homeless community, life has continued as normal despite the lockdown – and in spite of official attempts to help. Thousands of homeless people on LA’s ‘skid row’ in 2017

But for California’s 151,000 homeless community, life has continued as normal despite the lockdown and in spite of official attempts to help. Pictured: Skid Row streets overflowing with large groups of people lining up for a chance to pick up a meal

 The spike in demand for free meals came as it was announced that 3.3 million people have signed up for unemployment benefits nationwide this week

 In Los Angeles, which is home to 60,000 homeless people, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced plans to spend $20 million on 1,600 extra shelter beds, with a further 6,000 to be delivered by the American Red Cross

 When DailyMail.com visited Skid Row, hundreds of homeless people could be seen out on the street – virtually all with little or no protective equipment

The homeless are among the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles with many suffering from underlying health conditions as well as drink and drug addiction

In Los Angeles, which is home to 60,000 homeless people, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced plans to spend $20 million on 1,600 extra shelter beds, with a further 6,000 to be delivered by the American Red Cross. 

Garcetti has also said he plans to put santizer stations around the city and increase the number of Porta Potty units available for the homeless to use. 

In a statement released on March 18, he said: ‘We are taking immediate, urgent action to slow the spread of COVID-19 by helping people who are experiencing homelessness come indoors.’ 

But when DailyMail.com visited Skid Row, hundreds of homeless people could be seen out on the street – virtually all with little or no protective equipment.

Some were clustered chatting together in groups, while others were slumped over in doorways or passed out under quilts on the sidewalk.

Most shocking of all were the crowds that gathered at mealtimes outside the missions, crammed in on the sidewalk and far less than the recommended six feet apart.

Approached by DailyMail.com about what the city is doing to control the crowds of people on Skid Row, a member of Garcetti’s public affairs team said she had no explanation but would ask a member of the operations team to reach out with further information.

At the time of publication, DailyMail.com was still waiting for a response. …..more here 

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