The Los Angeles City Council wants to spend an additional $100 million in the coming year to reduce homelessness — roughly doubling what it spends now.

With Tuesday's announcement, Los Angeles became the first city in America to declare a public emergency over homelessness, and officials began planning a comprehensive strategy to help its citizens living on the street.

The extra money will let homeless people stay in shelters longer and give larger rent subsidies to get people into housing.

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The official estimate is that 26,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles, a problem made worse by rising housing costs in the city.

While the plan is still being drawn up, and they haven't revealed funding details, Mayor Eric Garcetti wants $5 million spent immediately on short term rent subsidies to "rapidly re-house" 1,000 people for six to nine-months. He's asking for another $5 million to do the same specifically for homeless veterans.

"If we can lift up those in need, and pick up those left behind, then we can live up to the best of our ideals."

His plan calls for opening winter shelters a month earlier and keeping them open a month longer in the spring.

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The mayor also wants to develop regional centers where homeless people can store belongings, take showers, and do laundry, and expand the city's outreach among homeless people to make them aware of services.

(READ more at the New York Times) — File Photo: Operation Feelgood

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