The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to create a new consolidated department dedicated to homeless services, marking a significant overhaul of the county’s approach to addressing its homelessness crisis. The measure, which passed in a 4-0-1 vote, will centralize functions currently spread across 14 county departments and bring them under direct Board of Supervisors oversight.
The decision represents one of the most substantial restructurings of the county’s homeless services system in years. Proponents argue that it will create greater accountability and efficiency in tackling what has become one of the region’s most pressing challenges. The new department will be modeled after Housing for Health, a program within the Department of Health Services that has demonstrated a 37% success rate in transitioning people from interim housing to permanent housing.
The consolidation will begin immediately with the creation of an administrative team drawing from existing Homeless Initiative and Housing for Health programs. The transition of staff and funding from LAHSA is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2026.
Board Chair Kathryn Barger emphasized that the crisis requires a comprehensive approach beyond housing alone. “Let me be clear: we cannot simply build our way out of homelessness,” she said. “Real solutions require sustained investments in treatment beds and supportive services.”
The new department will integrate functions from other county departments addressing homelessness, including mental health, public health, and social services. A national search for the department’s director will begin within 30 days.
County officials acknowledge that the transition will be challenging but emphasize the potential for improved outcomes. They stress the importance of maintaining strong partnerships with the City of Los Angeles and the county’s other cities.
LAHSA leadership defended the agency, citing improvements made during Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum’s tenure. However, several officials opposed the County’s move, citing ongoing problems with LAHSA.
The formation of the new department comes as the county prepares to receive Measure A investments this month, providing a “moment of opportunity” to eliminate layers of bureaucracy and tie investments to outcomes.
Source: https://smdp.com/government-politics-2/county-votes-to-break-with-longtime-homelessness-agency-and-form-new-department