Los Angeles homelessness oversight meeting collapses amid county takeover dispute

A meeting of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care board collapsed within two minutes on Friday, preventing a vote on a proposal to transfer key administrative duties for regional homelessness programs to Los Angeles County. The meeting was cut short because organizers had not prepared for the large crowd in attendance.

Los Angeles County officials seek to consolidate homelessness programs under its new Department of Homeless Services and Housing, moving responsibilities away from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath stated that the county is ready to lead a unified regional response and called for the meeting to be rescheduled immediately, noting that the failure to hold the meeting erodes public trust.

Mayor Karen Bass and several City Council members opposed the shift, arguing that the City of Los Angeles must maintain a direct role in overseeing services and deciding housing placements, particularly since the city provides significant funding for these initiatives. Horvath responded by committing that the city would maintain its current access to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry System (CES).