The budget is 5.5% more than the $527.1 million approved for the current fiscal year, and it includes $465.6 million from Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2017. The tax funds a 10-year campaign to combat the county’s homelessness crisis.
The draft’s recommendations include more than $143 million for services for permanent supportive housing, more than $125 million to improve the emergency shelter system, $40.15 million to expand a countywide outreach system, $8 million for homeless prevention for families, more than $11 million for homeless prevention for individuals, $3.62 million for subsidized housing for unhoused disabled individuals, nearly $65 million for rapid rehousing, nearly $14 million to facilitate federal housing subsidies and more than $37 million for interim housing for people exiting institutions.
According to the county’s most recent count of its unhoused population, there were 66,433 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County in January 2020 — up from 58,936 in 2019. In the Antelope Valley, the homeless population increased by 44% — from 3,293 in 2019 to 4,755 in 2020. [View the 2020 Antelope Valley breakdown here.] Results of the 2022 count will be made public by LAHSA over the summer.
The Homeless Initiative was created by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2015. The board worked the following year with community and government partners on 47 strategies to address the homelessness crisis. Measure H, which provides an estimated $355 million per year for 10 years, helps fund the initiative.
How to submit feedback
LA County residents can submit written public comment on the draft through May 10 by going to bit.ly/3pdwN70. On March 9, people can provide verbal public comment during a virtual hearing. Officials said the feedback will help inform the final budget, which the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider in May.
A presentation on the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative recommendations, and a comparison to the current fiscal year, is available at bit.ly/3hePnr7.
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just me says
I know 4 people who have made it successfully off the streets and into housing – either studio’s or room for rent in an approved home due to this measure. it would be nice if they reported last years outcomes and how much it has helped people. asking for more money makes sense since covid many people have been displaced due to job loss. Remember people, if you don’t have money in savings and a 401k to cash in or family to help you – and you loose your job, get hurt, or become disabled – your 3 months away from being homeless yourself. this is the only safety net they have besides an overcrowded shelters that don’t have enough beds to accommodate the current population of homeless people. The number of homeless people is increasing, not going down. If my 1 cent extra on sales tax can make a difference I will gladly pay it.
Tired of all the taxes… says
What is there to show for the years of tax collection under measure H? Where has that money gone? What is there to show for it? Doesn’t seem like much has been accomplished! The problem seems to have gotten worse in the last few years, not better. And Newsom used a bunch of federal COVID money to house them! And he’s getting more! I think we need to repeal Measure H, especially in these high inflation times.
Tim Scott says
One thing for sure, you can’t identify the homeless people by their whining. If they whine they would blend right in.