Protesters arrive as ‘notorious’ homeless encampment in Van Nuys is cleared as part of Los Angeles Inside Safe program

VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — City crews and police cleared out and cleaned a large homeless encampment in Van Nuys on Thursday morning.

The encampment, located in the 15300 block of Oxnard Street near the 405 Freeway, has been there for some time. It was the scene of a large fire that broke out last November.

Approximately 50 to 75 people were said to be living in the encampment.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office said Thursday’s clean-up operation was part of the city’s Inside Safe program. Officials noted that the operation wasn’t a sweep, but an option for services for people who were living there.

“This is a notorious emcampment,” Bass said. “This is such a dangerous location. I saw propane canisters all over the place. This has been a place of fires. This is dangerous.”

As crews moved in, some people were seen packing up and getting onto buses, while others took their belongings and headed down the street.

Bass said no one should be living in those conditions.

“People come along and try to convince people not to get on the bus, not to accept housing, to stay here living in squalor until we can provide a permanent place for them to live,” the mayor said. “My belief is that nobody that does that lives alongside them.”

A group of protesters showed up to demand that more be offered to individuals living in the encampment, saying the city keeps doing the same sweeps over and over without any real change. The protesters tried to block the clean-up crews from getting inside.

They said permanent services are needed.

Three demonstrators were cited and released.

“We cannot accept Angelenos living like this. Some people actually fight for people to stay in these kind of conditions, and how dare they sleep in a comfortable bed at night and then come here and advocate for people to stay in these kind of conditions,” Bass said.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) described it as one of the largest encampments it’s helped clear in the San Fernando Valley.

Bass said fencing will be put up to prevent further encampments from forming at that location.

Also Thursday morning in Van Nuys, Councilman Adrian Nazarian broke ground on District 2’s fourth tiny home village, which will add 100 more beds to those in need.

“So the novel is very thick, just like how the need is. This is a chapter, but if everyone takes this step and does this, we will very quickly be able to address the overarching issue,” Nazarian said.

The new tiny home village is located near Van Nuys Boulevard and Keswick Street. It’s expected to be completed in Spring 2026 and is estimated to cost just under $4 million.