On March 25, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ambitious plan to reduce homelessness, expand affordable housing and strengthen accountability by adopting a new set of five-year goals.
By adopting these targets, the Board of Supervisors has, for the first time, aligned the entire county behind a shared set of goals, said Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation.
“This sends a clear message that Los Angeles County is ready to act with clarity, coordination and purpose,” said Santana, who is also co-chair of the Leadership Table for Regional Homeless Alignment (LTRHA) and vice chair of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA).
The goals, recommended by the Executive Committee for Regional Homeless Alignment (ECRHA), LACAHSA and LTRHA, aim to reduce street homelessness by 30% and prevent more people from falling into homelessness by the end of 2030. The initial targets are meant to guide efforts now but can change as needed.
Santana said the urgency of housing Angelenos makes it important to set a high bar even as local officials fear ongoing federal spending cuts such as the recent freeze of $60 million largely meant for affordable housing nationwide and plans to halt a $1 billion program aimed at preserving affordable homes.
“Now is not the time to hesitate,” Santana said. “We’re starting to turn the tide, with unsheltered homelessness trending down for a second year. These goals build on that momentum and make sure we keep moving forward.”
On any given day in 2024, more than 75,000 people were homeless in Los Angeles County, including over 45,000 in the City of L.A., according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
The efforts are mandated by Measure A, the half-cent sales tax voters approved last year that is expected to generate more than $1 billion annually to fund affordable housing, homelessness prevention and services.
- Reduce street homelessness by 30%
- Cut the number of people becoming homeless by 20%
- Increase annual housing placements by 57%
- Ensure at least 20,000 individuals stay housed for two years or longer
- Increase the number of new affordable homes from 2,400 to 2,600 each year
The adopted goals also include specific metrics to address the racial, gender and ethnic disparities that drive homelessness, building on the County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.
The plan centers on accountability and regional coordination to ensure that public funds are spent effectively and transparently. If programs fall short, officials can redirect funding towards those that are delivering results.
“Setting goals does not bind us to a single strategy,” Santana said. “Rather, it provides a North Star, guiding our actions and ensuring we stay focused, even as circumstances evolve, Santana said.”
“Measure A wasn’t just about more funding. It was about demanding a system that delivers results,” Santana said. “These goals give us a clear way to measure progress and hold ourselves accountable to the public.”