The COVID pandemic has had an exacerbating effect on the homeless population and the subsequent concerns of health and safety both for the homeless themselves as well as the general population. The homeless already have an elevated risk of danger from disease and failing physical and mental health, and can also present a significant risk to the public when moving freely in and around businesses and public venues. Understanding and sufficiently addressing these intensified security risks is crucial and is now mandated by the government.

With involvement from California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Project Roomkey is a collaborative effort by the State, County, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to secure hotel rooms for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19. According to LA County’s official website, “private security will be on site, 24/7, at each Project Roomkey site”. With more than 58,000 homeless in LA County, the scope of this problem is enormous, and securing the response will be a very substantial enterprise.

Security is always a difficult and complex task, but it requires an even higher level of competence and experience in these circumstances. Having complete confidence in the preparedness and consistent execution of a private security firm is essential for elected leaders and their constituents. There is no margin for error, tensions are elevated, risks are multiplied, and consequences are dire. This demands a very specific level of excellence and quality in the security services provided, something consistently delivered by Force Protection Agency (FPA) with Southern California headquarters right in Beverly Hills. FPA is an approved government contractor and stands ready to provide critical protection to the public whenever and wherever it may be needed.