As L.A. considers pulling funding from the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, the City Council is weighing whether to contract directly with providers or through L.A. County’s new homelessness department.
It could be months before a final decision is made, but potential paths forward are beginning to take shape.
The search for alternatives to LAHSA comes after the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted in April to withdraw more than $300 million in annual funding from LAHSA by July 2026 and transition to a new Department of Homeless Services and Housing. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said in April that the county’s withdrawal meant LAHSA “has effectively ended.”
Charting a path
A report by city analysts released this week recommended a pilot program to test contracting directly with service providers. Analysts recommended using Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe Program as a test case, removing LAHSA from the program’s contracts and instead managing those contracts through city staff.
A full transition to direct contracting with service providers could begin in July 2026, according to city analysts…