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Committee accepts report on court-based outreach and record-clearing services for people experiencing homelessness
Summary
The committee heard from city attorneys and program staff about a long-running court-based outreach program that provides legal motions, traffic ticket resolution and monthly collaborative court sessions in Skid Row to help people experiencing homelessness clear low-level cases and connect to services.
The Los Angeles City Council Homelessness and Housing Committee accepted a report May 14 on the cityprogram that provides legal services, outreach and mobile court sessions for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Cynthia González, the supervising attorney for the program, described a field team composed of attorneys and coordinators who travel to libraries, Skid Row and other outreach sites to help eligible people file motions, resolve traffic tickets and access court-based problem-solving. González said the program compiles demographic metrics, outreach events, motions filed and motions granted and provides quarterly reports under a memorandum of understanding tied to performance metrics.
Staff said the program operates a collaborative court once a month in Skid Row with partner agencies and the public defender, and helps eligible participants address low-level criminal or civil matters to connect them to housing navigation and supportive services. The program has worked with the Department of Transportation on certain citation types and is exploring ways to align credit for community-service alternatives.
Committee members asked about metrics, barriers to clearing Department of Transportation citations and funding for the program. Staff said they are identifying budget options for FY 25-26 and are working with other departments to improve citation resolution. The committee accepted the report and voted 3-0. Councilmembers Rahman, Jurado and Bloomfield voted yes.
Staff characterized the program as long-running, dating to roughly 2006, and said it focuses on diversion, legal stabilization and linking participants to housing and services.
