West Hollywood received an update during its Nov. 17 City Council meeting on the city’s homelessness initiatives. In recent years, the city has made several moves to assist the unhoused community within its borders, most significantly opening the Holloway House, a former motel on Santa Monica Boulevard that has been transformed into transitional housing and services.
During the update, several council members brought up the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which has been criticized in recent years by various city and county entities. LAHSA, as described by its website, is “the regional system that coordinates housing and services for people experiencing homelessness across most of L.A. County.” Earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Council decided to explore funding services directly, versus going through LAHSA, while the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to cut ties with the organization entirely. The board intends to create its own regional department for homeless services instead.
LAHSA, among its other purposes, oversees the county’s annual homeless count, where volunteers help to determine how many residents are living on the streets. In 2025, it reported a 14% decrease in homelessness, but many city leaders have called the numbers into question…