New reports show unhoused populations are moving into city infrastructure.
The discovery of individuals living inside city storm drains near the 110 Freeway has intensified scrutiny of Los Angeles’ management of the homelessness crisis, with South L.A. residents now demanding urgent municipal intervention.
The situation came to light after Juan Naula, founder of the nonprofit Clean LA With Me, reported witnessing people emerging from the underground drainage system near 88th Street and South Grand Avenue. Naula, who encountered two individuals exiting the drains on Monday, stated that this was his second such discovery in two weeks, suggesting the practice is not an isolated occurrence.
While the subterranean conditions present extreme safety risks, the street level remains equally as daunting. The surrounding neighborhood is currently densely lined with recreational vehicles, tents, and accumulating refuse.
Local residents expressed growing frustration, characterizing the current environment as both dangerous and unsustainable. Community members are calling on city officials to move beyond temporary measures and provide meaningful outreach and housing solutions to address the increasingly desperate methods people are using to find shelter.
When city workers were preparing to seal the manhole, another person was almost sealed inside, according to the LA Times. One worker told them that someone was inside and a man climbed out and walked away. Another group of unhoused people were found inside a storm drain in Canoga Park two days later. A group of 300 people were found living in the storm drains of Las Vegas in 2018 and more recent reports tell of 1,500 people living there in 2025.