As homeless camps explode in LA suburbs, residents fear they will become permanent
LOS ANGELES - In the shadow of the roaring 110 Freeway in West Carson, Jennifer Morris stepped out of the portable restroom and washed her hands in a nearby sink.
Morris' pajama bottoms and shirt were covered in dirt, but she said she hadn't felt this clean in months.
Morris, 41, lost her job at a pet rescue organization about a year ago. Ever since, she's lived with her boyfriend in a sprawling homeless encampment in the unincorporated community, the thick brush hiding rows of tents where she slept, cooked meals and went to the bathroom.
As Southern California's homeless population has exploded in recent years, the South Bay and Harbor areas have seen their own surge, with an estimated 6,145
