Los Angeles County to Replace LAHSA as Lead Applicant for Federal Homelessness Funds After 310-Vote Regional Ballot
LOS ANGELES — The governance of homelessness programs across the Los Angeles region is set for a major change. According to MyNewsLA and FOXLA, the general membership of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC) voted on Tuesday, October 13, to designate Los Angeles County as the collaborative applicant for the region's homelessness programs, replacing the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) as lead applicant for federal funds.
The CoC is a collaborative body made up of LAHSA, cities, the county and service providers that coordinates regional homelessness programs and federal funding; Long Beach, Glendale and Pasadena run separate CoCs. Its general membership may designate entities to manage homelessness data, coordinate housing placements and oversee federal grant applications. The vote was reported as 310 in favor, 9 opposed and 12 abstentions, with county-affiliated attendees recusing themselves from the ballot.
CoC leadership told the meeting that a yes vote would protect the region from a management vacuum when a federal funding suspension lifts on October 27 and would protect its fiscal year 2026 federal funding application. The vote had originally been scheduled for the previous Friday but was delayed after organizers proved unprepared for the large crowd. Mayor Karen Bass and four City Council members criticized the delay and argued the city should retain a role in housing placement decisions. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the county was ready to lead and committed that the city would at minimum keep its current access to the homelessness data system.
Reports said the county won control of the annual homeless count and federal grant applications, while control of the outreach database and the housing-matching system remained disputed, with further negotiation expected.
(Sources: MyNewsLA and FOXLA, Oct. 13-14)
Related: More Homeless People Near My Home — After 26 Years in America, One Corner of the Country I See
Related: Follow-Up: L.A. Continuum of Care Votes to Award County the HMIS and Coordinated Entry Roles
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 洛杉矶威尼斯海滩一处无家可归者营地，现场分发食物物资（资料图）。摄影：Thayne Tuason／Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0
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