The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to effectively withdraw from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency (LAHSA), a large agency that sends tax revenues to manage efforts to end homelessness.
After an audit showed that financial accounting for the services provided was not transparent, the board voted 4-0 to establish the county’s own homeless services division, with supervisor Holly Mitchell abstaining.
“The situation is not working,” Superintendent Lindsey Horvas said at a meeting Tuesday that the county’s own homeless agency will improve surveillance with improved efficiency and results.
“All of my cities are still supported by us,” director Kathryn Berger said, reflecting the need to part ways with Rasa.
The decision was met with opposition from city of Los Angeles officials. City councillors crossed the street from La Town Hall to oppose the vote during the board meeting.
Some councillors said they are not fans of Councillor Monica Rodriguez’s homeless agency, but Rahasa said they “are good at cashing (LA) checks,” while others said it wasn’t the time for the county government to leave Rasa.
“We need to unite when the federal government is taking everything away,” said Katie Jaroslavsky, a council member representing the West LA district.
Mayor Karen Basu and councillor Nitya Raman also wrote to board members asking them to reject the proposed new county ministry. Progress has been made in the fight against homelessness through collaborative urban county agencies over the past two years, and “we need to continue building on this and face the challenges.”
The county’s votes increased countywide sales tax by a quarter, providing additional funding for the anti-homeless program.
The increase was approved by voters in November. This is a passing of Measure A, a semi-cent sales tax for homeless programs that will be permanently effective. The tax has been replaced with a previous voter-approved quarterly-centric sales tax that was due to expire in 2027.
The new county agency is expected to be implemented by January 1st, with approximately $300 million withdrawn from Lahasa and transferred to the new county agency by July 1st, 2026.
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