LA County Launches New Department of Homeless Services and Housing Amidst Crisis

New Department for Homelessness Services

• 🎯 LA County has launched a new Department of Homeless Services and Housing to address the ongoing homelessness crisis.
• 🏛️ This department aims to provide the Board of Supervisors with better oversight of funds allocated to homelessness.
• 🔑 The department is headed by Sarah Mayan and intends to make the county's response clearer, faster, and more accountable.

Addressing Past Failures and Ensuring Transparency

• ⚠️ The new department is established following mismanagement of funds by the LA Homeless Services Authority (LASA).
• 🧼 Supervisors aim to untangle the mess from LASA and start with a clean slate, focusing on effective solutions.
• 📊 A key goal is transparency, with plans for online dashboards to track public spending on housing and care.

Budget and Public Accountability

• 💰 The department is requesting a budget of over $820 million, largely funded by Measure A (a sales tax increase).
• 📈 The public will be able to monitor expenditures through online dashboards, ensuring accountability.
• ✅ The Board of Supervisors emphasizes that accountability for every dollar spent will now rest with them.

Public Trust and Future Information

• 💬 The county acknowledges the need to build public trust and has involved the public through town halls and transparent budget construction.
• 📊 Future information rollouts will include data on people moving off streets and individuals with serious mental illness and substance use entering housing.
• 📉 While LASA still exists, its responsibilities have been significantly reduced, with the new department controlling the purse strings.

Ongoing Homeless Count

• 📝 The annual homeless count also began today, facilitated by LASA, though its overall scope has been reduced.