XPost: alt.california, alt.politics.economics, sac.politics
XPost: talk.politics.misc
Homeless family living in Skid Row enjoy a meal
©MEGA
Knewz.com is reporting that Los Angeles officials are exploring changes to improve oversight of homelessness funding, following audits that
identified the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's (LAHSA) lack of transparency and accountability. The City Council voted unanimously to
consider alternatives to LAHSA, including direct contracts with service providers. The decisions come amid LAHSA's ongoing financial management
issues.
LA Mission distributes food to thousands of homeless people
©MEGA
Established in the 90s, the agency has faced scrutiny over its financial practices. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez (D-LA) criticized LAHSA's
inability to account for its expenditures and advocated for a city
department to manage homelessness programs.
Volunteers serve homeless people during an annual feast
©MEGA
Rodriguez stated, “It's now been verified by two audits that they cannot produce an account for the work that they are funded to do. And that, to
me, is an egregious breach of taxpayer trust.”
Homeless encampment in LA's Chatsworth neighborhood
©MEGA
LAHSA coordinates funding for essential services such as shelter and food programs for unhoused residents. It currently has an annual budget of approximately $875 million.
Homeless mother of two leaves an abusive home and returns to the street
©MEGA
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved a $908
million funding package for homeless services. The package includes
allocations from Measure A, a new half-cent sales tax set to replace the previous quarter-cent Measure H.
Thanksgiving Day celebration for homeless people in LA
©MEGA
LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said, “With recent audits
underscoring the urgent need for reform and stronger accountability, now
is the time to implement long overdue change.”
Homesess encampment near a Metrolink stop
©MEGA
Supervisor Janice Hahn stated, “Measure A is a major shift in our strategy
for taking on homelessness. Instead of the county deciding where and how
every dollar gets spent, our cities will get their own allocations for
shelter, outreach, services and affordable housing.”
Skid Row residents and homeless people from LA receive services
©MEGA
The budget reduces funding for programs like mobile legal clinics but
maintains essential resources for services targeting young adults and homelessness prevention. The Board intends to cut the unsheltered
population by 30% in the coming years.
An eviction forces Michael Williams' family to treat his chronic pulmonary disease while homeless
©MEGA
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said, “Cutting funds for our transition-age
youth is both cruel and irresponsible.” Horvath added, “And sacrificing
our prevention services cuts our most cost-effective way to keep people
housed and risks increasing flow into homelessness.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/california-s-billion-dollar- blunder-more-wasted-tax-dollars/ss-AA1C4T3a
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)