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Committee asks for analysis of county’s proposed homelessness department and potential impacts on LASA contracts and city services
Summary
Council members debated and approved a motion seeking an analysis of a county-level plan to create a homelessness department and what that would mean for LASA funding, staffing and the city’s capacity to assume programs if county funding is withdrawn.
The Homelessness Committee voted to request a report analyzing how a pending county action to create a new Department of Homelessness and related changes could affect the city’s programs and contracts, particularly funding and staffing tied to LASA.
Councilmember Bloomenfield introduced the motion, noting public and departmental concerns about accounting and the intermingling of city and county funds for contracted services. John Wick of the committee’s legislative-analyst office told the panel the county appears poised to create a new department that could remove a substantial portion of LASA funding and that roughly 52 percent of LASA employees’ positions are currently funded by the county, creating a complex funding mix across city, county and state sources.
Wick said the county supervisors appear to be advancing the change without a full public financial analysis and that the city expects a more detailed fiscal analysis to be published later in the week. “This is a big change,” Wick said, summarizing the committee’s concern that unraveling interwoven funding streams could leave LASA with fewer staff and the city facing a heavier administrative and contracting burden.
City and housing staff described that the city currently manages seven contracts with LASA and that LASA manages many subcontracts across the countywide continuum of care. Lorena Sánchez of the Los Angeles Housing Department said the city’s Department of Housing handles seven LASA contracts and that integrating those services internally would increase the city’s contracting workload.
Committee members asked for follow-up analysis on continuity of services for people experiencing homelessness and for financial implications if the city had to assume more responsibilities. The motion as amended asks the city administrative/legal offices and relevant departments to report back on how to ensure continuity of care, the financial impacts to city budgets, and what assets or contracts would be affected.
After discussion, the committee approved the motion. Councilmember Raman, Councilmember Jurado and Councilmember Bloomenfield recorded votes in favor; two members were absent.
