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A coalition of nonprofit organizations that operates dozens of temporary and emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness says that without an immediate increase in funding to cover all operating costs, 14 shelters will be closed. informed the City of Los Angeles that it may be forced to close.
“We’re just telling them we can’t continue to provide shelter and keep our facilities open at these low rates. Nonprofits are losing more money than they can sustain.” said Jerry Jones, executive director of the Greater LA Coalition. Homelessness issues representing over 50 providers.
Jones said transitional shelters have been underfunded for years, and organizations have often solicited private donations or received funds from other agencies to raise funds to pay in full. He said there are many.
“The system works because the nonprofit service providers make it work, but they’re losing money on every shelter bed or every worker,” Jones said.
The City Council’s Homeless Task Force was scheduled to consider such an increase on Wednesday, following a coalition petition last week first reported by the LA Times that more than 1,200 shelter beds in the city could soon be closed. It’s been several months since I ran out of money and was at risk of being shut down.
“Thanks to unprecedented coordination with service providers and partners, Los Angeles has seen a decline in homelessness for the first time in years and a double-digit reduction in street homelessness,” Mayor Karen Bass’ office said in response to questions about the need for additional funding. sent an email to.
“We continue to innovate to reduce costs in order to house more people in emergencies and keep people housed permanently,” the statement said.
According to a memo from the chief administrative officer, the city currently pays about $60 or more per night, depending on shelter type and other criteria, and shelter providers are paying more than $60 per night to be sustainable. says it will cost nearly $90 per night.
The council will consider raising the fee above $69 in January and promises additional increases later in the year.
City Councilman Bob Blumenfield told NBCLA on Tuesday that “there is funding for the homeless. We have significant funding set aside for Inside Safe and the Homeless Fund,” but interim shelters It warned that increasing fees to providers could take away funding elsewhere.
“We need to take money out of the funds that we set aside for the homeless, but that requires choices. We need to make choices about where the money goes, can we spend it on this, can we spend it on that,” he said. spoke.
Mr Blumenfield, who serves on the city council’s homelessness committee, said the city council must take action on the increase by the end of November to provide shelter organizations with large amounts of money in January. He said that a decision is expected.
Last week, Los Angeles City Commissioner Kenneth Mejia announced that his office had identified more than $500 million in funds earmarked for homelessness that had not been spent by the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
Other city officials said nearly all of that money is tied to specific anti-homelessness programs, adding that it will be used as intended and that the city’s inability to disburse the money quickly enough is tied to individual agencies. He blamed this on a lack of personnel.
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