Posted on 04/08/2025
The Los Angeles City Council took a significant step toward reassessing homelessness services in the region by reviewing the establishment of a new Los Angeles County Department for Homelessness and its potential impact on the City’s contracts with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
On Feb. 28, 2025, in response to a motion from the County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative (HI) released a report outlining a plan to implement a key recommendation from the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Homelessness: the creation of a dedicated County department to serve individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The initial motion also directed HI to propose a plan for streamlining LAHSA’s responsibilities, which would involve withdrawing County funding from LAHSA and limiting its role to serving solely as the lead agency for the Continuum of Care (CoC).
In response, the City Council has tasked the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) and the City Administrative Officer (CAO) with conducting an independent analysis of the County’s proposal. This analysis will focus on understanding the implications for the City’s homelessness contracts and coordination efforts, including potential risks such as loss of access to essential data, misalignment in service delivery, and changes in resource distribution that may not align with the City’s priorities.
These measures aim to provide the City with greater clarity and control over homelessness service delivery, ensuring that any transition away from LAHSA maintains service effectiveness and continues to support the City’s most vulnerable residents.