Committee approves CLA report on coordinated entry system with direction to expand training, monitoring

The committee voted to approve a City Administrative Analyst (CLA) report on the city’s coordinated entry system for people experiencing homelessness, adding amendments directing further training, contract reviews and data monitoring.

The CLA report, presented by CLA staff Matías Ermita, summarized recent changes to the coordinated entry system (referred to in the report as “CSS” or “CES Reimagined”), explained how clients are placed into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and identified delays that lengthen the time from referral to move-in. The committee approved the report with multiple amendments and a 60-day follow-up.

The report says the CES now includes a universal housing application process and a shift from one-to-one coordination to group coordination intended to increase efficiency. It also identified recurring problems: inconsistent application of the universal housing application (UHA), training gaps for staff filling UHAs, difficulty obtaining disability verification (which often requires a medical professional signature), and a lack of a single city point of responsibility to track placements from referral through lease-up.

CLA staff told the committee that many delays stem from incomplete applications and inconsistent verification processes. The report recommended additional UHA training for staff and said the start date for the rental process should be set at four months after a PSH site opens. It also recommended the Department of Housing be designated as the city’s point of responsibility to collect metrics and report back to council.

Committee members pressed on how clients are distributed to PSH units and whether the CES allows geographic prioritization. CLA staff said the CES itself does not impose a fixed geographic distribution but that the city can set priorities; staff noted tensions between regional systems run by other agencies and local priorities. The committee also discussed whether one-to-one matching or group matching is more effective; staff and members expressed concern that one-to-one matching can be inefficient when clients are difficult to locate, while group matching lets providers present multiple candidates for vacancies.

One amendment instructs CLA, with assistance from the Department of Housing and the City Attorney, to review contracts and governance related to LAHSA/“ASA” and county processes to identify where the city can require clearer roles and reporting. Committee members also asked CLA to return with a recommendation asking HackLA/Jakla (named in the report) to review whether the 60-day verification and unit inspection window could be extended to 90 days to reduce delays.

Committee member roll call on the motion was recorded as: Member Román — yes; Member Jurado — yes; Member Bloomenfield — yes. The motion passed 3-0. The committee also requested a 60-day status report to council on implementation steps and performance metrics.

Why this matters: The coordinated entry system determines which people are matched to scarce permanent supportive housing units; the committee’s direction aims to reduce placement delays and improve accountability by designating a city office to monitor progress.

Next steps: CLA will return with contract-review findings, a recommended training plan for UHAs, and proposed performance metrics. The committee asked for a 60‑day check-in and for LAHSA/partner agencies to be invited to future briefings.