Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all public housing residents in L.A. will have access to free, on-site COVID-19 testing. (photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office)

On June 23, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a new effort to deploy mobile COVID-19 testing units to all 15 public housing locations in the city of Los Angeles, delivering free, on-site testing for COVID-19 to nearly 25,000 residents.

This latest expansion of the local mobile testing system is possible thanks to a partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department and Community Organized Relief Effort, a nonprofit founded by actor Sean Penn that aims to save lives and strengthen communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis.

“COVID-19 is still here and it’s still deadly, so we have to keep working to expand our testing infrastructure, stop the spread of this virus, get ahead of outbreaks and save the lives of at-risk Angelenos in the face of this pandemic,” Garcetti said. “COVID-19 testing isn’t just a tool of health, it’s an instrument of equity, and our new effort will bring vital resources to the doorsteps of many communities of color and some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Over the next two months, the city and its partners will deploy mobile COVID-19 testing units to each HACLA site. With the city’s new program, testing will come directly to many local families in need of immediate support.

HACLA residents who wish to sign up in advance for a testing appointment can visit coronavirus.lacity.org/haclatesting. Members of the general public can visit coronavirus.lacity.org/testing to obtain information about the more than 90 local sites available.