LA City Council approves controversial Venice homeless shelter

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council has approved a controversial location for a new homeless shelter in Venice, despite strong community opposition.

Council members and advocates say the shelter will help get the homeless off the streets, reducing tents, human waste and trash on the sidewalks.

"The location we have chosen in Venice is a reasonable one and a sensible one," said City Councilman Mike Bonin, as many in the audience jeered and booed.

Some community members say the location in an empty MTA yard near Abbot Kinney Boulevard is too close to residences and popular tourist attractions like the beach.

"The MTA lot is an irresponsible choice," said opponent Dara Lasky.

Despite the jeers, the council voted 13-0 to back the 154-bed homeless shelter on Sunset Avenue, as part of Mayor Eric Garcetti's A Bridge Home program.

The California Coastal Commission still has to approve the $5 million project. In the meantime, the Venice Stakeholders Association has said it will sue the city over the project.