Council committee approves extension and $400,000 amendment for ADU Accelerator program contract with 1 Generation

A City Council committee on April 2 approved an amendment to extend the city's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Accelerator program contract with 1 Generation and to add $400,000 in funds to continue housing navigation and rental assistance services.

The amendment, introduced by Councilmember Blumenfield, instructs the general manager or designee of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to amend and reinstate city contract C-139995 and/or execute a sole-source contract with 1 Generation or issue an RFP to increase the contract by $400,000 to expand the scope of the ADU Accelerator program and extend the contract term through Feb. 28, 2027. Blumenfield said the additional money would come from his discretionary account: "the extra money is coming out of my discretionary account... It's not general fund." The committee approved the item as amended on a 3-0 voice roll call.

The CAO's office told the committee the primary technical change was to retroactively reinstate the contract with 1 Generation because it had expired while LAHD was preparing its report. LAHD staff described the ADU Accelerator program as an initiative approved about three years ago to house seniors age 62 and older at risk of homelessness by placing them across ADUs; the program originally envisioned a five-year period but initially ran shorter, and LAHD said 10 tenants remain across eight ADUs.

Committee members heard that LAHD initially requested a staff position to monitor the program but later determined the previously assigned staff member, now promoted, could continue monitoring the program in her new role. The amendment adds funding to expand the program beyond the remaining 10 households and extends the contract term by two years to allow staff additional time to secure permanent housing for remaining participants.

Votes at the meeting show the amendment passed unanimously among members present. The committee also noted and filed a related Department of Building and Safety report on the consent calendar during the same session.

The committee recorded no additional conditions on the increase and directed LAHD and the Chief Legislative Analyst to assist in effectuating the motion's intent. The motion language specifies options for reinstating C-139995, issuing a sole-source contract with 1 Generation, or issuing a request for proposals should the department determine that to be necessary.

The committee discussion included assurances from LAHD and the CAO that program oversight would continue and that the additional funds would be used for housing navigation, placement services and homelessness prevention related to the ADU Accelerator participants.

The committee moved promptly onto other items after the vote. The contract amendment and extension will be implemented by LAHD per the instructions in the approved motion.