Council confirms Marguerite Lares to LAHSA commission after questions on data and oversight

The Los Angeles City Council on June 20 unanimously confirmed Marguerite Lares to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) commission, following a 40-minute question-and-answer period about data integrity, contractor performance and LAHSA’s role in the regional homeless response.

Council member Imelda Rodriguez invited Lares to appear for questions. Lares described her background and said, “I've been working in the housing authority world and affordable housing world for 26 years,” and that she has “the responsibility of overseeing the federal programs, public housing, and the multiple section 8 programs.” She said that experience includes 16 years with county housing authorities and six years with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

Council members pressed Lares on the homeless count and on whether LAHSA has consistently provided timely, auditable data to city offices. Rodriguez said that data flow to city entities had been “not forthcoming” and pressed Lares on the nonfunctioning app used during the volunteer homeless count. Lares acknowledged discrepancies and said, “Systems are as good as the information that you put in,” and that any system “does have to be audited, and data needs to be scrubbed before any report out is made.”

Members also discussed LAHSA’s reduced county funding and the agency’s ability to function after a reported 45% cut to its budget. Lares said an early priority would be “to prepare LAHSA for whatever is next” and to “reshape it” to reflect funding realities while preserving the agency’s role in the homelessness response.

Council member Grama spoke in support of Lares and cited her prior collaboration with HACLA on initiatives affecting low-income residents. After debate the council voted 14–0 to confirm Lares.

Why it matters: LAHSA is the regional coordinator for homeless services and the primary holder of shelter and system data used to match people to housing. Council members framed the confirmation as a test of whether LAHSA can increase transparency and accountability while adapting to reduced funding.

Ending: Lares thanked the council and said she would continue her voluntary service alongside her regular job, adding, “We owe it to our communities, especially to the children, to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary place to live.” The council sent the item forthwith for scheduling and implementation follow-up.