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Council approves Inside Safe payments but orders tighter oversight and weekly MDT coordination with county
Summary
The council approved payments connected to the Inside Safe program and passed amendments requiring stronger city oversight, monthly/weekly reporting and CAO-coordinated county multidisciplinary team (MDT) deployments tied to the Alliance settlement; the final Item 38 passed as amended 13-1.
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a package of funding and administrative actions tied to the Inside Safe shelter program while adding new oversight and reporting requirements intended to shore up data, throughput and fiscal controls.
After prolonged debate, the council adopted Item 38 as amended (final tally: 13 ayes, 1 no). The amendments require the Chief Administrative Officer to coordinate the new county-funded multidisciplinary outreach teams (MDTs) through a CAO-managed regional outreach coordination structure, increase council access to weekly MDT deployment reports, and require CAO reportbacks with a timeline and metrics for demobilizing non-alliance-eligible motel beds and improving throughput to permanent housing.
Supporters said the measures ensure providers who have delivered services are paid while tightening city oversight and asking for clearer performance and demobilization plans. Critics said the council has repeatedly asked for detailed HEA/Inside Safe data, but the city and LAHSA continue to return incomplete reports; some councilmembers said they fear continued payments will lock the city into expensive motel-based sheltering without long-term housing results.
Key figures and clarifications
- CAO staff said the current funding recommendation includes an estimated $27.7 million tied to recent quarters: roughly $10 million to cover remaining quarter-1 costs plus a roughly $14 million figure referenced as the quarter-3 advance and associated administration. CAO staff explained quarter definitions used for reporting: Quarter 1 covered July–September; Quarter 2 October–December; Quarter 3 January–March.
- The CAO office told councilmembers the MDT structure for 34 county-funded MDTs operating in the city will be coordinated by the CAO’s regional outreach coordinators, which will provide weekly priority-location lists to the county Department of Health Services (DHS). County DHS will report which priority locations MDTs visited and will update HMIS outreach dashboards at the council-district level for weekly review.
- Advocates and critics offered contrasting testimony in public comment. Adam of Los Angeles Community Action Network argued Inside Safe spends “over $40,000 per year” per congregate bed in some operations and that those expenditures are not producing permanent housing outcomes. Joy Richardson of St. Joseph’s Center said provider payments were delayed and urged approval of the HEA payments so services and meals can continue.
Council action and what it requires of staff
The package of amendments adopted by council instructs the CAO to: coordinate MDT deployment with county DHS and provide weekly reports filtered by council district; produce a timeline and specific metrics for demobilizing non-alliance-eligible beds and moving residents into permanent housing; and present more detailed monthly budgets and projected costs for upcoming fiscal planning. The council also accepted amendments to hold a portion of the so-called quarter-3 advance pending receipt of supporting invoices and verification for services rendered, while preserving timely payment for services documented to date.
Council members repeatedly said the changes are intended to preserve the city’s leverage and demand clearer outcomes from contractors, LAHSA and county partners while ensuring service providers are not left unpaid for verified work.
Votes at a glance
- Item 38 (Inside Safe/HEA payments and instructions), adopted as amended. Final vote: 13 ayes, 1 no. Separate amendment votes recorded earlier for the record: 38E (11 ayes, 3 noes); 38D (14 ayes); 38C (14 ayes). - Items 43 and 49 (MDT coordination and Alliance-related instructions), adopted 14-0; instruct CAO to coordinate MDTs and require county reporting to the city.
No changes to court orders or the Alliance settlement were enacted by the council; the measures direct the CAO to increase coordination with county DHS and to report back to the council with metrics and timelines.
