LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles City Council is exploring the idea of making easier for churches and nonprofits to operate as homeless shelters, voting Wednesday to seek reports to expand where shelters and other forms of interim housing can be established.

The council voted 10-2 to instruct he Department of City Planning to amend the municipal code to streamline administrative approval of homeless shelters as public benefit projects. Currently, temporary homeless shelters can operate on city-owned property, and in certain zoned areas if the shelter is operated by a religious institution, nonprofit or charitable organization.

The department's report should consider reducing or eliminating zoning requirements and expand where shelters can operate, according to the council. The council also sought a report on ways to allow existing and new temporary homeless shelters to be made permanent.

The item was brought forward via a motion by Councilman Mike Bonin in February, but he claimed on Twitter that it was only coming before council now because former Council President Nury Martinez refused to schedule it.