Thurman Butler Jr., 66, who is homeless, sweeps around his tent Friday, December 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. “A lot of people in America don't realize they might be two checks, three checks, four checks away from being homeless”, said Butler who became homeless after he was evicted from his apartment. A homeless crisis of unprecedented proportions is rocking the West Coast, and its victims are being left behind by the very things that mark the region's success: soaring housing costs, rock-bottom vacancy rates and a roaring economy that waits for no one. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Thaddeus Bell, 50, who is homeless, sits outside his tent with the street address of his childhood home in Oklahoma hanging on a fence Monday, December 4, 2017, in Los Angeles. “I might be homeless but I'm human just like everybody else”, said Bell. “I deserve a real house like any other person”. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Tents belonging to homeless people are covered with tarps as Los Angeles police officers on horses patrol in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles Friday, December 1, 2017. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Homeless people wait in line for a meal served by a community organization outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church Thursday, September 21, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Theodore Neubauer, a 78-year-old Vietnam War veteran, who is homeless, looks at his smartphone while passing time in his tent Friday, December 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. “Well, there's a million-dollar view”, said Neubauer on what it's like to be homeless in Los Angeles. Neubauer has a tent pitched in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and is surrounded by high-rise buildings. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





A homeless man sits outside a high-rise building converted into apartments Monday, December 4, 2017, in downtown Los Angeles. The U.S. Department on Housing and Urban Development release of the 2017 homeless numbers are expected to show a dramatic increase in the number of people lacking shelter along the West Coast. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





A homeless man, who declined to give his name, is dwarfed by skyscrapers Monday, December 4, 2017, in Los Angeles. The U.S. Department on Housing and Urban Development release of the 2017 homeless numbers are expected to show a dramatic increase in the number of people lacking shelter along the West Coast. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Homeless man Alonzo Harrison, 47, takes a nap on a bench at Pershing Square decorated with Christmas lights in the background on Monday, December 4, 2017, in Los Angeles. A homeless crisis of unprecedented proportions is rocking the West Coast, and its victims are being left behind by the very things that mark the region's success: soaring housing costs, rock-bottom vacancy rates and a roaring economy that waits for no one. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





A man who identified himself just as Vincent, sorts his belongings outside his tent Friday, December 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. Vincent said he thought he was bulletproof and never had to worry about getting a job as a young man. “Things ain't the way they were anymore”. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Wearing a Christmas headband, Grace Fernandez, who is homeless, smokes outside her tent in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, Friday, December 1, 2017. “Holidays are just so much special. It should bring us altogether as one even if we are homeless”, said Fernandez. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





Homeless tents are dwarfed by skyscrapers as 63-year-old Vincent, who only gave his first name, sorts his belongings Friday, December 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. Vincent said he thought he was bulletproof and never had to worry about getting a job as a young man. “Things ain't the way they were anymore”. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)





A homeless man sleeps on a concrete floor outside an office building under renovation Friday, December 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)