As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics draw near and Angelenos prepare to host the world in our backyard, it’s growing harder for locals to ignore the glaring oxymoron of homelessness amid the glitz and glamour of our city.

It’s time for Angelenos to seize this opportunity and actually help those in need, not just hide them for a summer. Students in particular should involve themselves in homelessness support initiatives.

Nearly 6,000 people experiencing homelessness could be affected by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic venues, according to researchers from UCLA and USC who study the homelessness crisis.

Ethan Yu, a second-year economics and public affairs student, said his pride for the city is dampened by the lack of progress it has made toward helping people experiencing homelessness.

“I am really excited for the Olympics to be in LA,” Yu said. “But at the same time, I hope that they can be able to solve these problems like homelessness within the community and put a good face forward towards the world.”

Worries about homelessness are sometimes tied to safety concerns. Students should check these negative presumptions and generalizations about homelessness.

“Homelessness is obviously a visceral emotional issue for people,” said Jacob Wasserman, a research program manager at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. “It’s an issue that’s tied up in safety, but it’s not the same issue.”

So, how can we be proactive hosts while still protecting the dignity of people experiencing homelessness in a sensitive and effective way?

Randall Kuhn, professor at the Fielding School of Public Health, said sweeps – the forced removal and disbanding of people experiencing homelessness – are not the solution.

“In the month of a sweep, we see worse self-rated health, worse depression, worse anxiety, worse loneliness, worse sleep quality – and those burdens pile up over time,” Kuhn said. “All you’re doing is making the person go away, but they’re rarely going that far away. What you’ve mostly done is made them less safe.”

While students may feel powerless in the face of such a complex social issue, there are ways to help that prioritize the safety of people experiencing homelessness.

Students can get involved on campus by volunteering with the Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA and other outreach clubs or by educating themselves and broadening their perspectives on the issues that directly impact our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Let’s not forget what Angelenos should be proud of as we prepare to put our best foot forward. Our city’s beauty is in the light that shines brighter when refracted through our diversity.

“We’re all human – we’re all the same. I think we forget that,” said Nagaa Joseph, a fourth-year molecular, cell and developmental biology student. Joseph said he regularly volunteers to serve people experiencing homelessness in downtown LA through the UCLA Global Medical Missions Alliance club.

As students, we ought to treat all our neighbors with a kindness that is mindful of our shared humanity. We must approach the LA28 Games with intentionality and compassion, aiming to serve both those who are arriving and those who are staying.