There is still a long way to go, but the Los Angeles area seems to have made progress in its struggle with the homeless.
In cities, data shows that homeless people are entering new permanent support housing faster. According to the 2025 count, there are 14% fewer people on the street than two years ago.
Future progress may be more difficult, largely due to the slowdown, which reduces funding for homeless services and programs.
“Homelessness is a reaction to strategic investment,” said John Maceri, CEO of the nonprofit that the nonprofit focuses on. “What we are seeing now is that we are digressing.”
The current funding picture comes after officials attributed years of increase in public investment Recent decline Homeless. Surprisingly, it was nearly a year after Los Angeles County residents voted to significantly improve their contribution to the cause.
In November, voters approved Measure A, which is a half million tax on homeless people, an increase from the tax imposed in the previous quarter.
However, most of the additional tax volume is dedicated to building affordable housing, which takes time, and the percentage of sales tax flowing to the county’s core homeless services is basically the same.
As a result, officials said that while more funds are being raised, the county has less money due to the slowdown and reduced consumer spending, such as job training, outreach and landlord incentives. Coupled with the state’s budget cuts and expected reductions in the federal government, officials and nonprofit providers say you have a perfect storm.
“We saw a cliff,” Maceri said, who has fired 22 workers due to the reduction.
In a June report, the United City Conference Agency, Los Angeles Homeless Services, highlighted nearly $92.7 million in budget cuts, including a reduction in rental subsidy reductions and a rental subsidy center that helps homeless access services.
Tax revenues collected for services to homeless people are expected to fall again next year, while the cost of providing these services is increasing.
On Tuesday, Sarah Mahin, director of the New County Homeless Department, will take over many of Lahsa’s responsibilities next year, told the board that given the combination of cuts, “area must make very difficult choices about how we invest in our limited resources” and that the department is working to “work with our partners to determine the best route forward.”
According to the provider, the reduction in funds this year is already in effect.
In the main plan, there is a name Time limit subsidyThis is designed to pay for rent subsidies up to two years so that former homeless people can live in apartments while looking for a job or more permanent subsidy programs.
Due to the reduction in national currencies, nonprofits that use subsidies to accommodate people cannot accept new applicants.
Some service providers reported that the decision was supporting the system, and people stayed in shelters longer. There is less space in the shelter and others have to stay on the street for longer.
So far, the county is expected to achieve its main goal of Measure A, as the omniscient homeless population has fallen by 30% from 2024 to 2030.
Leaders of nonprofits said cuts would make it difficult to achieve this indicator.
“We will be able to accommodate your possibilities at this moment,” said Ryan J. Smith, CEO of the St. Joseph Center.
Another measure is flowing, and the fund has long been building new permanent, affordable housing, but so is investment in services, which helps to transfer people to the streets in the near future and eventually into that permanent housing.
“When the resources that drive reduction are greatly reduced, we will not be able to continue to reduce a lot,” Maceri said.
To address this, Maceri calls for more funding from the state or federal government, but far away.
In recent years, state governments have cut homeless spending in amid budget constraints, and are increasingly concerned In the public – and some elected officials – the money spent has not translated into sufficient progress.
At the federal level, the Trump administration wants to end funding specific programs for homelessness that try to accommodate people first and then address other issues, such as drug use or mental health, a policy that the county believes is the cornerstone of its approach, and George W. Bush (George W.
Furthermore, the government is seeking Reduce funds Local governments will receive public housing and manage the U.S. General Housing Voucher Program, which can help millions of Americans provide rent for private landlords.
“I’ve been in this industry for over 35 years and of course I’ve seen challenges related to funding or policy shifts,” Emilio Salas, executive director of the county department responsible for public housing and vouchers, told the board Tuesday. “But I’ve never experienced this level of impact that is related to stress from all aspects of the housing ecosystem.”
