Homelessness is a growing problem throughout the region, and Anaheim believes it's so out of control that on Tuesday the city's leaders declared a state of emergency.
Los Angeles made a similar declaration two years ago, too.
But these cries for help may not be reaching an important person: Governor Jerry Brown.
"These calls were intended to get attention for the crisis," says Rina Palta, KPCC's reporter on the social safety net, "and they did accomplish things like ease the permitting requirements for shelters, to try to make it easier to site these things in neighborhoods."
However, the impact was largely symbolic.
Declaring a state of emergency around an event – like a natural disaster – means that localities can officially ask the state to step in and provide resources.
"That didn't work here," says Palta. "The state didn't decide to go that route and declined to provide really any new money to fight homelessness."
Sacramento lawmakers have given cities and counties some relief in recent years.
For example, they recently redirected about a billion dollars over 10 years to house those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness who have severe mental disabilities.
But homeless advocates believe that the state isn't doing as much as it could.
"Living in LA city and county, seeing the number of people that can't afford housing and that some of whom are now ending up homeless, I think we're just impatient," says Ruth Schwartz of Shelter Partnership. "We need to invest in solutions much sooner."
In the coming months, it's possible that money from the federal government might pour in.
"But I think there's going to be a lot of advocates for all kinds of issues – from the environment, to homelessness, to housing – who are going to see federal dollars cut," says Palta, "and they'll be looking to the state for more help."
