Los Angeles County announces new Homeless Services and Housing Department

Los Angeles County announced a new Homeless Services and Housing Department as the region begins its three-day homeless count, following a 2025 Board of Supervisors decision to remove more than $300 million in funding from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority after audits and federal review found accounting and oversight problems.

County officials announced the creation of a Homeless Services and Housing Department as the three-day Los Angeles regional homeless count began. The move follows an April 2025 decision by the Board of Supervisors to pull more than $300 million in funding from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority after audits and a federal review raised concerns about accounting and oversight. County leaders spoke from the Emergency and Centralized Response Center, which officials described as central to the new department's coordination role. Key points: - The Board of Supervisors voted in April 2025 to reallocate funding away from the joint city-county LAHSA after audits and a federal review identified problems tracking funds and performance. - County leaders say the new department brings services and staff that were previously spread across multiple departments under one roof, with Sarah Mahin named as the department's director. - Officials noted the department will be funded by Measure A, the 2024 half-cent sales tax designated for homelessness and housing efforts. - County officials described the transition as ongoing, and said the goal is to have the new department fully operational by the summer, while also noting uncertainties tied to changes in federal funding and other revenue pressures. Summary: County leaders presented the department as a centralized structure intended to coordinate outreach and housing services after concerns about LAHSA's financial oversight. Officials say work to finalize the transition is underway with a target of full operation by the summer, and they have reported funding uncertainties linked to changes in federal and other revenue sources.