Uva outlines homelessness plan for Downey

Carrie Uva has proposed a homelessness plan for Downey that includes expanded street outreach, closer coordination with police and additional mental health officers. (Campaign photo)

DOWNEY – Downey community leader Carrie Uva unveiled a direct plan to tackle homelessness, focusing on stronger law enforcement coordination, expanded outreach, and safer public spaces.

With many unhoused individuals arriving from surrounding cities and riverbeds, Uva’s platform emphasizes that Downey’s parks and public spaces must remain clean and safe for all families.

“Our parks belong to our families, and our neighborhoods deserve to feel secure,” said Uva. “We need proactive leadership and a firm commitment to keeping our public spaces safe.”

Uva’s Action Plan Includes:

Strategic Collaboration with the Downey Police Department: Working hand-in-hand with the Downey Police Department to continuously assess the situation, protect public safety, and ensure law enforcement has the resources needed to maintain order.

Expanding CityNet’s Contract to 7 Days and Extended Hours: CityNet is a contracted homeless services provider dedicated to street outreach, connecting unhoused individuals to housing navigation, case management, and supportive services. Currently operating on a limited schedule, Uva proposes expanding CityNet’s city contract from five days a week to a full seven-day schedule, including extended hours into the evening and night when outreach is critically needed.

Aggressive Engagement and Accountability: Under Uva’s plan, the city will take a proactive stance—aggressively engaging individuals, offering immediate connection to existing social and shelter programs, and enforcing laws to prevent encampments and ensure unhoused individuals keep moving if they refuse assistance.

Hiring Additional Dedicated Mental Health Officers: To address the intersection of homelessness and mental illness, Uva calls for hiring additional specialized mental health officers to expedite 5150 holds.

This will ensure that individuals suffering from severe mental health crises are promptly removed from our streets and public spaces and safely transported to appropriate medical facilities outside of Downey for professional care.

Uva’s campaign emphasizes that solving homelessness requires a balanced approach of compassionate intervention, increased accountability, and unwavering protection of Downey’s community standards.

For more information about Carrie Uva’s campaign and her platform for Downey, please visit www.CarrieUvaForDowney.com or call her directly at (562) 417-2068.