Topline:
Los Angeles County has picked a leader for its first-ever homelessness department but hasn’t released that person’s name publicly.
Why now: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday after meeting in closed session for roughly five hours. After coming out of closed session, the supervisors voted to officially name the new unit the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
Why it matters: The inaugural director will help lead the county’s overhaul of the homeless services system after officials moved to pull nearly $350 million in funding from the region’s top homeless services agency, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, otherwise known as LAHSA.
The backstory: The change, led by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger, followed a series of harsh audits that highlighted major issues at LAHSA, including an inability to properly account for billions in taxpayer dollars and failing to track whether contracts with service providers were followed…