Surveillance video shows a homeless man Los Angeles living inside an underground utility vault that was found just steps away from a historic museum.
The unidentified man was spotted on camera outside the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) last Monday when he lifted one of the vault’s panels to stuff a backpack into the utility vault. Security guards who work at the museum noticed the man opening another lid and then seen him disappear underground.
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“The security guards noticed the incident, called our director of security who came down,” museum CFO Doug Van Kirk told KTLA. “We don’t know how long or how many times he may have accessed that vault. It’s certainly possible he had been there other times,” said Van Kirk, according to ABC 7.
While the vault did not have direct access to the museum, officials claimed it was a fire hazard for the man to remain in the space.
“Given the location of the vault, it’s immediately under the museum and the potential for a very severe incident,” Bill Fujioka, the museum’s
Chair for the Board of Trustees told ABC 7. “There’s gas lines down there. There’s electrical lines down there. A fire could have been started down there. We just have to be careful.”
Homelessness in Los Angeles is a significant and complex issue. The city has been grappling with a large homeless population for many years, and it continues to be a pressing problem. Here are some of the top three key points regarding homelessness in Los Angeles:
- Magnitude of the Problem: Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. The 2021 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count reported over 41,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city. This number includes individuals living on the streets, in vehicles, and in shelters.
- Causes: Several factors contribute to homelessness in Los Angeles. These include a lack of affordable housing, rising rents, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment, and systemic issues like racial inequality and income disparities.
- Housing Affordability: Los Angeles faces a severe shortage of affordable housing, making it difficult for many residents to secure stable housing. High housing costs, limited housing options, and income inequality have created a housing crisis that affects both low-income individuals and middle-class families.