In a decisive move aimed at tackling the city's rampant homelessness crisis, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has appointed Dr. Etsemaye P. Agonafer as the inaugural Deputy Mayor of Homelessness and Community Health. Dr. Agonafer, with a notable history in health equity, takes the helm at a crucial time following reports that Mayor Bass's administration has successfully housed thousands more Angelenos compared to the previous year through the Inside Safe program and collaborative efforts with the City Council, as reported by the City of Los Angeles.
The new position stands as a testament to Mayor Bass's promise to address homelessness with a sense of urgency and a robust strategy—an approach that now integrates housing solutions with vital health services to yield sustainable results across the city; Dr. Agonafer's role also includes enhancing service coordination for those at risk or experiencing homelessness, particularly in interim and permanent housing situations, according to an announcement by the mayor's office.
Before stepping into this new role Dr. Agonafer contributed to the Mayor’s Inside Safe initiative and crafted a substance use disorder pilot program for the city's interim housing participants, all while serving as the Community Health Advisor in the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Homelessness Solutions, according to the City of Los Angeles.
"We must continue to address this homelessness crisis with urgency and comprehensive strategies that work," Mayor Bass stated, recognizing Dr. Agonafer's vast experience and understanding of healthcare and homelessness as invaluable to the mission; the Deputy Mayor has a rich background that spans internal medicine, health policy, and community engagement, and she's previously offered her expertise as an Assistant Professor at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and as a White House Fellow in the Biden-Harris Administration.
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