California-funded Skid Row shelter hands out meth pipes and needles, critics say

Governor Gavin Newsom’s Harm Reduction Initiative funds the Skid Row Care Campus, a homeless services hub that offers free needles, meth pipes and other drug-use tools alongside basic amenities like food and laundry. The site operates with minimal law-enforcement presence, allowing patrons to collect paraphernalia without identification or checks. Nonprofit partners such as Homeless Health Care Los Angeles and Wesley Health Centers have reported dramatic revenue growth since the center’s 2025 launch.

Local observers note an increase in police calls—over a thousand this year—and four murders in the surrounding area, which they attribute to the shelter’s open-access policy. Estela Lopez, executive director of the L.A. Downtown Industrial District, condemned the approach as a “disaster” that supplies addicts everything they need to stay high. The program’s funding comes from a mix of state, local and federal sources, including the American Rescue Plan Act, raising questions about the use of public money for services that critics say enable drug abuse.