Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt launched a blistering critique of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass's homelessness policies on Friday, going so far as to suggest that the city's unsheltered population would be better off in Seattle. In an interview with ABC 7, Pratt—best known for his stint on MTV's The Hills—argued that most people living on the streets are not truly homeless but rather struggling with addiction.
“They’re not homeless, they’re drug addicts,” Pratt said, citing methamphetamine and fentanyl use. He claimed there are already enough beds and housing units for everyone currently unsheltered, and that those remaining on the streets are doing so by choice. “They are choosing to be on the street because they want to do drugs, they don’t want rules, they want to have animals to abuse,” he added. “This idea that they’re forced on the street right now is a lie that our city is perpetuating.”
Pratt further alleged that homeless individuals are being “bused in by scam” rehabilitation centers and “scam homeless nonprofits,” repeating a narrative that has gained traction among some conservative critics of the city's outreach efforts. He dismissed the notion that the city's homeless population is left without options, insisting they refuse housing, food, and treatment.
The candidate outlined a plan to build a treatment facility on federal land—but not in Los Angeles County or even California. When pressed by ABC 7's Josh Haskell on the location, Pratt said it would be on “federal—beautiful—federal land property” and that “they’re all going to Seattle, where the mayor will welcome them.” He was referring to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, a democratic socialist.
Pratt claimed that after meeting with officials from FEMA and HUD, he was told such a facility could be constructed in just three days using prefabricated housing, at a lower cost than retrofitting an existing building. “Literally I went to Washington and I saw miles of the most insane, prefabricated housing and building,” he said. “I asked all the CEOs of these companies—I asked, ‘How long does this take?’”
The proposal echoes controversial tactics used by other California municipalities in the late 20th century, where homeless individuals were bused out of town and dropped in downtown Los Angeles. Pratt's suggestion of relocating homeless people out of state has drawn sharp criticism from advocates who see it as an abdication of responsibility.
Homelessness remains a defining issue in the mayoral race. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, more than 43,000 people are homeless in the city as of 2025. Mayor Bass, who has made reducing homelessness a cornerstone of her term, has overseen an 18% drop in the homeless count since taking office. She has accelerated the construction of over 42,000 affordable housing units and moved more than 20,000 people into temporary shelters. Last month, she secured over $300 million in funding for affordable housing.
“For decades, Angelenos have been forced to bear the burden of rising rents and eviction notices because City Hall failed to deliver housing and support for tenants. We are changing that broken system,” Bass said in a statement. “This historic investment will provide relief to renters impacted by last year’s fires and will increase LA’s affordable housing supply. I want every Angeleno to be able to afford to live in their neighborhood.”
Pratt's campaign has leaned heavily on a law-and-order message, framing homelessness primarily as an addiction crisis. His surge in the polls reflects growing voter frustration with the pace of progress under Bass. However, his proposal to export the homeless population has drawn comparisons to failed policies of the past and raised questions about feasibility and legality.
The Hill has reached out to FEMA and HUD for comment on Pratt's claims about the three-day construction timeline.
