Homeless Encampments Cost These Cities Tens of Thousands of Dollars Per Tent

When Los Angeles officials were looking to set up a new homeless shelter where residents could have their own space, they decided speed was the priority. For that reason, they declined to build the typical tiny home village in favor of an easier-to-assemble "safe sleeping" tent encampment. At a price of $44,000 per tent, one would hope the site went up pretty fast.

All told, Los Angeles' East Hollywood encampment, complete with showers, fencing, and staff facilities, cost $4 million to build. The city-contracted nonprofit Urban Alchemy spends another $3 million operating the site each year—with most of the operating expenses going toward 24/7 staffing and catering.

Other cities' "safe sleeping" sites are similarly expensive.