The Board of Supervisors voted to cut ties with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and channel funds towards a new county department dedicated to managing the crisis. According to NBC Los Angeles, this decision follows audits questioning LAHSA’s financial accountability and concerns that its services lack transparency.
With Supervisor Holly Mitchell abstaining, the board's unanimous vote underscores a significant reform in the administration of homeless services. The new department forms amidst a backdrop of heightened taxpayer commitment, evidenced by a quarter-cent sales tax increase to bolster anti-homelessness initiatives. However, some city councilmembers shared their apprehensions, with Councilmember Nithya Raman expressing fears of service disruptions due to this shift. In a statement obtained by CBS News, she cautioned, "What I fear most is that we're moving the money from one bureaucracy to another, one that the city of LA has much less visible to, potentially jeopardizing all of the shared progress that we've made."
The move comes as the latest homelessness count suggests a slight decline in the numbers on the streets. LAHSA reported a minor decrease in countywide homelessness for the first time in six years, a point quoted by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as evidence that cooperation between city and county agencies was making headway in the battle against chronic homelessness. Meanwhile, the KTLA reported Supervisor Lindsay Horvath's statement, "Los Angeles County is leaving the status quo behind, and is embracing a model for homeless services that centers accountability and results."
The formation of this new county department promises greater oversight and results-oriented management of the homelessness crisis, with the transition marked by the allocation of $1 billion, drawn from taxes, intended to aid those on the streets. The county aims to introduce enhanced monitoring to ensure service delivery, as documented and provided by Horvath's office, reported by LAist. Supervisor Janice Hahn shared the sentiment of the necessity for change, noting LAHSA's ongoing issues and stating no one defended the agency "because I don’t think anybody wants to."
The future of LAHSA is now in flux, as it faces a substantial reduction in funding and a potential overhaul of its structure and scope with LAHSA CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum pleading for the agency's continuation by highlighting improvements made. She told LAist, “We've implemented 20 new data dashboards that provide unprecedented insight into how our system functions.” On the other hand, the county posits that direct control over homelessness funding will lead to more efficient and transparent operation. Supervisors Barger and Horvath are leading the charge for this shift, with both promising rigorous tracking and accountability for any funds distributed to combat homelessness.
