Council adopts homelessness performance metrics, adds prevention indicator and oversight steps

The Los Angeles City Council on Aug. 26 voted to adopt a set of performance metrics to evaluate city homelessness investments, adding a new prevention indicator and directing staff to incorporate the measures into a restructured contract framework with the regional homeless-services administrator.

Councilmember Rodríguez, who introduced the motion, said the city cannot rely on data that “has not been transparent” and that the council must know the source of information used to measure results. “Mi preocupación es que si vamos a tener una conversación sobre las métricas de resultados… tenemos que saber cuál es la fuente de los datos,” Rodríguez said during the discussion.

The approved measures—described in council materials as 35 performance indicators—are intended to track provider outcomes and inform whether city dollars are producing expected results, staff said. Virginia Alcázar, an analyst with the city housing department, said the measures will be incorporated into a new framework agreement with the city’s contract administrator and will include corrective measures for failing performance.

Councilmembers who spoke in the debate emphasized different priorities. Councilmember Lee asked for clear workflow maps and consequences when contractors do not perform. “Quiero consecuencias por fallos a desempeñar,” Lee said. Councilmember Raman proposed adding a prevention metric to measure how city prevention programs keep people housed; Rodriguez accepted that amendment. Councilmember Park seconded a related amendment focused on how the housing department will use the metrics to trigger contract remedies.

Staff described capacity constraints in the newly formed housing office: the presentation noted a small team handling a greatly increased volume of contracts and amendments since the pandemic. Councilmembers asked the department to return with clearer descriptions of which office positions will carry out monitoring work. The housing office also told the council it plans to include the 35 measures in a restructured agreement with the regional administrator (referred to repeatedly in the meeting transcription as “LAHSA”), and to identify corrective measures to be invoked when providers do not meet standards.

The motion also referenced supplemental monitoring resources discussed during the hearing. Council members referred to a request for monitoring funds (the transcript records a request for roughly $400,000 to support monitoring and contract administration); staff said the council would be asked to consider those budget items as part of implementation planning.

The item passed by voice vote with the clerk reporting 15 in favor. The council directed staff to (1) incorporate the adopted measures into contracting documents and a framework agreement, (2) report back on the staffing and costs needed to monitor those measures and (3) include an indicator measuring prevention outcomes.

Why it matters: Council members repeatedly said regional data and contract administration have produced unreliable or incomplete information, and that better measurement and accountability are needed as city resources face pressure. The changes are intended to give the council clearer, regularly updated information on whether city-funded programs are moving people into permanent housing.

What’s next: Staff said the housing office would return with more detailed implementation plans, including job descriptions, costing for monitoring, and the proposed contract language to incorporate the 35 measures.