City Council condemns reported federal move to pull HUD funding from LAHSA, urges reconsideration

Los Angeles City Council voted on June 16 to adopt a resolution denouncing reported federal action to withdraw HUD funding from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and asked federal officials to reconsider, saying cuts should not translate into people losing shelter.

The resolution, which the clerk recorded as passing with 14 ayes, was introduced amid sharp remarks from councilmembers who said federal action — if enacted — risks pushing people living outdoors further into harm. Councilmember M. Rodriguez said the county “has a role” in the Alliance settlement and pressed for court pressure to ensure county services reach interim housing sites. “We continue to hear stories about how that is failing to occur,” she said, urging the county to fulfill obligations to provide mental health and substance-use care beds.

Councilmember T. McOsker framed the council’s response as both protective and pragmatic. “The answer isn’t to suspend and cut money and put people on the street,” he said, adding the city must move with greater speed to stand up its own functional system if county or federal partners withdraw support. Several members — including Y. Jurado and I. Padilla — emphasized the need for decisive local leadership while continuing to seek accountability at county and federal levels.

Council debate acknowledged longstanding criticism of LAHSA’s operations and payment delays that have frustrated providers. But many speakers said operational problems should be addressed without forcing people out of housing programs: “You don’t solve that by kicking houseless people out on the street,” one member said during debate.

The council directed staff and committees to pursue follow-up actions, including further committee review and outreach to federal and county partners to safeguard services. The measure places the council on record opposing funding withdrawals and signals intent to accelerate local contingency planning; the clerk noted the council will pursue related committee work in the coming weeks.

What happens next: the council instructed staff to pursue outreach with HUD, continue committee-level discussion about alternative service delivery and evaluate options for reorganizing city approaches in coordination with county and nonprofit providers. The council recorded the vote as 14 ayes and the resolution is effective immediately as the council’s formal position.